FORMER Oxford United boss Chris Wilder has wished the club well ahead of their Sky Bet League One play-off final against Bolton Wanderers.

Current U’s boss Des Buckingham was promoted to the first team backroom staff at the start of the 2013/14 campaign, when Wilder was in charge.

Before then, Buckingham had worked with various age group sides at United.

He revealed that Wilder, now the manager at Sheffield United, got in touch with him after the U’s overcame Peterborough United in the play-off semi-finals.

Buckingham said: “He sent me a message after the Peterborough game, congratulating us and wishing us well. I’m not sure if he’ll be there at Wembley, but he’ll be supporting, I’m sure.”

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Buckingham was in the crowd at Wembley in 2010, when Wilder led United to promotion back into the Football League via the 3-1 play-off final victory against York City.

Discussing the moment when Alfie Potter sealed the win in stoppage time, Buckingham said: “I think I ended up five rows further down from where I was seated, but so did everyone else at the time.

“Everyone lost a bit of control, but you can see why. It was a very special moment.”