He began his career as a trainee at Oxford United, coming through the ranks to make a handful of first team appearances before moving to Lincoln City in 1995 on a free transfer.
[3] Wanless then left Lincoln and moved to Cambridge United, where he made nearly 350 appearances in all competitions over a seven-year period[3] and became club captain.
Wanless joined Southern Football League Premier Division side Oxford City as a player coach in June 2010.
[4] Wanless had a short spell as caretaker manager of Forest Green in 2007 when Gary Owers left the club, during which he took control of two matches, both drawn.
After spending a season as assistant to the new manager, Jim Harvey, he left Forest Green in May 2007 and moved to the Welsh Premier League as player-coach at Llanelli.