Wycombe Wanderers 3 Bristol Rovers 1

The last time I visited Adams Park a couple of weeks ago, there was a noticeable gulf in class between the Chairboys and the opposition - Championship outfit Nottingham Forest.

Forest won that League Cup tie quite convincingly, but in last night's Johnstone Paint Trophy clash with Bristol Rovers, Wycombe highlighted the difference between Leagues One and Two. There wasn't a massive gap between the two sides, but it was definitely there.

Manager Gary Waddock had the summer luxury of adding to a promotion winning side and even though no-one in the town is expecting too much from the team this season, he has cultivated a good spirit within the camp which will serve them well in the months ahead.

I asked Gary where the JPT stood in his list of priorities this season given that "with the best will in the world" Wycombe weren't going to win the FA Cup and his immediate retort was: "Why not?" Admittedly he had a slight grin on his face, but he pointed out that every game was important as each win bred confidence.

The great thing about listening and talking to Gary is that he is a pleasant guy seemingly full of self belief, but without any of the arrogance displayed by some managers. He appears relaxed and has a good sense of humour and I can't imagine him panicking - character traits which will serve him well when times get tough, as they inevitably will in the career he has chosen.

Waddock is in the early stages of his managerial career, but has already saved QPR from relegation in a caretaker capacity, won promotion from the Conference and the Conference League Cup with Aldershot, and despite failing to save Wycombe from relegation to League Two (after replacing Peter Taylor in October 2009) he brought them back up last season.

Wycombe appears to be a great club for young managers to be allowed time to develop their skills and has seen the likes of Martin O'Neill, Paul Lambert, John Gregory (Waddock's replacement at QPR) and Lawrie Sanchez move on to bigger and better things.

Only a fool would make a prediction about what the future will hold for Gary Waddock at this juncture. So here goes.

At 49 years old he still has a way to go, but I really do believe that he has the potential to make it at the very top. He appears to have the trust and respect of the media, the players, the fans and the club officials and no small amount of tactical nous to go with it. Expect to see his name in the frame for a top Championship club or a bottom half Premier League team at some point in the next two years.

Rovers manager Paul Buckle still has some work to do, but he has signed a decent bunch of players who, as Waddock said: "Will serve the club well once they gel and see them in the mix at the end of the season."

I agree. Rovers needed to be completely rebuilt following last season's relegation and when wholesale changes are made as they were at the Mem, its not often that everything clicks into place immediately.

Gasheads will need to have a little patience with Buckle and his boys in the coming weeks as he decides on his best side - and clears the treatment room. Once that happens, I'm sure that they'll tun things around.