Geoffrey Richmond slammed the marker in the sand with his programme notes on Friday.

City's chairman left nobody in any doubt what he thought of the team's efforts this season. He also made it crystal clear that those "offenders" responsible for the poor season would be dealt with.

"Blood may have to be spilled" was the chilling way he outlined appropriate action to turn round a dressing room of serial under-achievers.

Nicky Law has said from day one he wants to build his own squad at Valley Parade. At the moment he is having to work with players that were thrust upon him - and that is not the same thing.

Seven players are out of contract in the summer, including Stuart McCall and Lee Sharpe. You may not see any of them at Valley Parade in August.

McCall will be 38 in June and with the best will in the world, he is unlikely to be offered an extension beyond his testimonial year.

Gunnar Halle, too, has enjoyed an Indian summer at right back. But he is set to return home to Norway and, like McCall, move into the coaching side.

Sharpe has shown flashes of the skills that once graced the top level with Manchester United. But that's been the story of his three years as a Bantam - moments of sheer genius but too many long gaps in between.

Gareth Whalley is another player who must be feeling the draught. The left-sided midfielder has been plagued by injury for two years and will Law be willing to gamble by offering him another deal?

Gareth Grant has failed to grasp the chance he has been offered and looks set to be on his way. In four years at Valley Parade he never broke through and the feeling is he never will.

Young winger Andy Lee's contract is also up and having just returned from a one-game loan spell with Emley, he knows the writing is on the wall.

That leaves Mark Bower, the central defensive understudy to Andy Myers. Bower, who spent the bulk of last season at York, has had a few chinks of light but the consistency of Myers - probably the best regular performer - has kept him mainly in the shadows.

But the clear-out goes further than just those whose present contracts have run their course.

Judging by the tenor of the chairman's no-nonsense message, the management intend for others to follow.

Richmond has declared a purge on the "over-paid under-achievers" that are dragging the team down.

But as he also admitted, football players are unsackable - over-paid and under-achieving some may be, but you still need to find a buyer.

If they do wheedle out anyone else - and remember Benito Carbone is still City's property for now - it will allow Law to mould the team that he wants.

Forget talk of a Phoenix League, a new "phoenix" team could emerge if Law gets the "seven to ten" new faces he has been promised for next season. But that depends first on the outgoings.

You could probably make a case for every player being shipped out.

Ashley Ward, the club's second biggest earner, is in the shop window after the Barnsley episode. Law is in no rush to lose him but the cash saved could pay the wages of three replacements.

In the treatment room, City have half-a-dozen experienced pros on very good money.

The future of the Scottish brigade must also be under question - will Jim Jefferies be encouraged to whisk the likes of Eoin Jess and Andy Tod away to Kilmarnock?

Life at Valley Parade is never, ever dull and the next few months could be livelier than most. Nobody's future is secure and after the way they have played this season, nobody's should be.