Megson clear out

9:29am Tuesday 13th May 2008

WANDERERS stars are set to learn whether they still have a Reebok future in the next 24 hours.

Gary Megson is expected to make wholesale changes to the squad which finally celebrated Premier League survival on Sunday.

But the Bolton boss will waste little time in wielding the axe to ensure his side do not find themselves in a similar position next season.

Up to 12 players could be shown the door at the Reebok.

El-Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Meite, Stelios, Heidar Helguson, Andranik and Daniel Braaten all look to have played their last game for the Whites.

Liverpool's Danny Guthrie, Mikel Alonso from Real Sociedad, and Southampton's Grzegorz Rasiak will return to their parent clubs after loan spells, though Guthrie, the 21-year-old midfielder, is being linked with a permanent £1.5million switch.

And the futures of the out-of-contract Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ricardo Gardner and Ivan Campo still remain unclear.

Talks are still ongoing but Megson has already admitted he wants to put his own stamp on the club after inheriting the majority of the squad from Sammy Lee's ill-fated reign.

Money will be made available to the manager - and funds will be further boosted after Wanderers managed to end the season in 16th, earning the club £3.6m in prize money.

Coupled with £4.6m of television income, and £15m from the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea in January, Megson will have a sizeable warchest at his disposal as Wanderers look for a return to the success which saw them finish in the top eight in the last four seasons.

Meanwhile, former Whites midfielder Gareth Farrelly is in intensive care after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour from his pancreas last week.

The 32-year-old, who made more than 90 appearances for Wanderers after joining from Everton in November 1999, was taken ill while at home in England.

"Gareth has had major surgery and remains in intensive care in Warwick hospital," said Alan Mathews, manger of Cork City where Farrelly plays.

"He should be out and about within the next five days or so. The operation was successful but it was a very, very serious one."

Doubts remain over whether the ex-Everton and Aston Villa man, who has been struggling with knee injury, will play again.

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