Wycombe Wanderers made glaring error in post-Martin O'Neill era | OneFootball

Alan Smith's year at Wycombe Wanderers was one to forget.

After the most successful era in Wycombe Wanderers' history under Martin O'Neill, it's fair to say the Chairboys got the appointment of his successor very wrong.

Whilst Tony Adams holds the record for statistically the least successful managerial tenure at Adams Park in the club's EFL history, Alan Smith's appointment in 1995 is certainly the least fondly remembered.

The former Crystal Palace boss had been out of work for just a few months when Wycombe came calling in June 1995. However, he lasted just a single year at the club, and caused a huge rift between himself and the supporters.

From trying to change the kits from the traditional light and dark blue quarters to his long-ball tactics, it's fair to say that Smith's time in South Buckinghamshire was short, and bitter rather than sweet.

Alan Smith quickly dashed Wycombe Wanderers excitement with unfavourable decisions

Replacing a legendary manager like O'Neill was always going to be a tough ask. The Northern Irishman guided the Chairboys into the EFL for the first time in the club's history, and secured back-to-back promotions the following year. 60 managers applied for the vacancy, but just one was interviewed - Smith, who'd led the Eagles to the Division One (Championship) title in 1994.

The ex-Palace boss was appointed in June 1995, and made just one summer signing in Paul Hardyman from Bristol Rovers. He also allowed long-serving players Glyn Creaser and Simon Hutchinson to depart Wycombe.

Any optimism around the appointment was quickly dashed when Wanderers took to the pitch, starting the season slowly, before picking up in the Autumn. However, regardless of the events on the pitch, concerning signs regarding the new manager began to become visible off it.

After a 5-0 humiliation against Walsall, Smith insisted that the half-time team talk should've taken place on the pitch. Along with this, popular players such as Steve Thompson and Simon Garner were shown the door, much to the disappointment of supporters. Fan favorite goalkeeper, Paul Hyde, also fell out with the Blues boss after a 4-2 defeat to Carlisle United, and would never play for the club again.

By early 1996, fans had begun to lose their patience with Smith and his long-ball tactics. His style of play was perceived to be too negative, and results on the pitch often reflected that. Come March 1996, crowds had reached an all-time low, as less than 3,000 supporters attended Wycombe's fixture against Rotherham United.

To add insult to injury, Smith was keen to get rid of the club's famous light and dark blue-quartered kits. Fans had the chance to vote for their new home kit in a matchday programme, and whilst one option was the overwhelming majority, supporters didn't favour both of these, which led to a number of spoiled ballot papers.

Wycombe got Martin O'Neill's successor wrong

The 1995/96 season was a rather unremarkable campaign on the pitch, as Wycombe finished mid-table in their first season under Smith's stewardship. However, it wasn't just the football that supporters were unhappy with, as the many debacles listed above saw the manager become completely alienated from the fans.

The kit situation for the 1996/97 season also left the Wanderers faithful feeling rather unhappy. The classic quarters had been done away with, and replaced with quartered stripes which were red and blue - something more indicative of Crystal Palace rather than Wycombe.

In September 1996, the club announced record losses of £300,000 during Smith's first season in charge. This was down to dwindling attendances and an all-round lack of faith in the manager. Later that month, after their worst start to a season in 89 years, the writing was on the then-50-year-old and his assistant David Kemp.

Following his sacking, Smith addressed the rift between him and the Wycombe fans, saying: "The fans weren't happy with me. I don't think they could relate to me. They thought I was a bit of a Flash Harry up from London with a big car."

Replacing a legend is always difficult, and Smith certainly had the credentials to be the right man to take the Buckinghamshire outfit forward when he arrived. But, his lack of relationship with the supporters and unfavourable decisions and tactics ultimately played a huge part in his downfall.

Fortunately, when another legend in Gareth Ainsworth left 30 years later, Wycombe didn't make the same mistake they did replacing O'Neill, by bringing in Matt Bloomfield, who was a huge success. However, this story lingers in the mind as one that went horribly wrong.