Wilder caused some surprise when he opted to leave Oxford in the new year, swapping a tilt at the play-offs for a relegation battle with Northampton.
A longer-term contract at Sixfields was seen as one reason and having guided the Cobblers to safety against his old club on the final day of the season Wilder can look back with some justification at his decision.
Gary Waddock endured a tough few months after taking over and has now been replaced by Michael Appleton after Darryl Eales became a joint-owner of Oxford United alongside outgoing chairman Ian Lenagan.