Shaun Goater will be hoping he doesn't get a call to visit Joe Royle's office this summer.

The Blues are braced for a mass clear-out whether they stave off the threat of relegation from the Premier League or not this season.

City are currently in the bottom three and are staring the drop back to Division One in the face after just one year in the top flight.

The revolution under manager Royle has already seen eight of the squad that won successive promotions depart and seven new faces come in ... and the turnover is set to continue.

Goater (31), currently City's joint top scorer with nine goals along with Costa Rican Paulo Wanchope, is one of the club's most saleable assets and although relegation would cost them 15-million in lost revenue, and Goater has not made it clear whether he will stay or go if they take the plunge, it would seem unlikely Royle would seek to cash in on the fans' favourite.

The boss, however, is realistic enough to know that should City remain among the elite they need to bring in a higher calibre of player. Failure to do so could result in a similar battle among the bottom dwellers next season.

Senior players must also be moved on if promising youngsters like Shaun Wright-Phillips, Terry Dunfield, Chris Shuker and Steven Jordan are going to get a taste of regular senior action.

That will undoubtedly spell the end of the line for many of those who currently earn their crust at Maine Road.

Andy Morrison and Richard Edghill, who captained two promotion winning sides, crowd favourite Terry Cooke, Gareth Taylor, Jim Whitley, goalkeepers Richard McKinney and Steve Hodgson and record signing Wanchope are all likely to head for the door sooner rather than later.

In addition there remain question marks against the long-term City futures of loan signings, Andrei Kanchelskis and Egil Ostenstad, while defender Spencer Prior has already talked about moving on.

Those who go will join Ian Bishop, Richard Jobson, Tommy Wright, Danny Allsopp, Lee Crooks, Nick Fenton, Gary Mason and George Weah as entries in the Who's Who of former City players.

Goater will be hoping Royle doesn't have his name underlined as well.