Football: BLUEBIRDS FACE MASS CLEAR-OUT.

In addition, Dutchman Winston Faerber and German Jorn Schwinkendorf, who both joined this season on big contracts, are also likely to be told they can leave. Manager Billy Ayre could be joining the stampede from South Wales. Chesterfield and his former club Blackpool - two sides relegated with Cardiff - are both interestedCARDIFF'S bitter price of relegation could be a mass exodus from Ninian Park.

Seven players - Jeff Eckhardt, Jon Hallworth, Jason Fowler, Danny Hill, Mike Ford, Richard Carpenter and Lee Phillips - are out of contract in June.

And most of them will either leave or be booted out as the club are forced to cut their wage bill in the Third Division. revival bid next season. Ayre took over as caretaker-manager for the last three months of the season following the departure of Frank Burrows. He still has two years left on his original contract as a coach at Cardiff.

Chairman Steve Borley - away on club business yesterday - is keen to keep him but Ayre said last night: "Right now I'm still stunned by the think rationally in those kind of situations. This is the first time I have tasted relegation and it is a bitter taste. But I still believe in my ability as a manager."

Stories persist of a summer takeover at the club. A consortium, led by businessman Clive Sullivan - brother of multi-millionaire porn baron David - pulled out of a pounds 2.5m