Gaz wants to see passion from Blues (From This Is Local London)

Gaz wants to see passion from Blues

10:07am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Latest Sport By Andy Carswell

GARETH Ainsworth says he wants Wanderers to play with fire in their bellies in his first game in caretaker charge of Blues.

The player-coach has been put in temporary charge of Wanderers after Gary Waddock was sacked on Saturday and admits the 'passion and drive' has gone missing from the team.

He told the club's official website: "I asked for their respect which I know I’ve got, I asked them to respect my decisions because it’s not an easy place to be, and I asked for passion.

"We’re good footballers, the passion and drive are the things that are missing at the moment. I see these lads week in, week out and they can play, they can score goals, they can defend, now it’s that bit of spark, that fire in your belly that will get us points.

"I want them to do things they didn’t think they could, it’s that unknown that I want to get out of them. I’ll be doing everything I can to do that."

He added: I’m sure Gary [Waddock] will find another job, but he’ll be the first to recognise that we’ve got to get points on the board, as well as passion, spirit and drive back into this club. I want the lads to respond and the team that go out there on Saturday will give that."

Ainsworth said he wanted his team mates to show the same levels of emotion and passion on the field of play as he will from the touchlines.

He said: "I've got a lot of emotion and a lot of passion for Wycombe Wanderers. I’m so proud to have been captain, to be a player and now to be caretaker manager.

"That’s what I’ll show. I can’t hide emotions, if I’m angry you’ll see it, if I’m emotional you’ll see it, if I’m upset, if I’m tearful with joy you’ll see it – you’ll see everything.

"Hopefully people will respond to that and say ‘he’s not hiding anything, he’s passionate and that’s what Gareth Ainsworth is all about’. You will get everything I’ve got, everything, every little bit of passion that oozes out of me for football will be seen."

The 39-year-old has played in both of Wanderers' last two matches and hasn't ruled out the possibility of putting himself into the side again against Dagenham and Redbridge.