“I’ve had a meeting with Billy. We have discussed terms which I have put to the board and we hope to ratify the deal next week,” said chairman Steve Borley.

“We don’t lay any blame for relegation at Billy’s door, and feel he will be the best man to pull us out of Division Three. He knows the division and its players like the back of his hand.

“Despite going down we feel we have a good squad. We’ll make some improvements to it in the summer.”

But Ayre’s future would still be in the balance in the event of a summer take-over. The directors are ready to stand down if a Mr Big like David Sullivan buys the club. He would almost certainly want to appoint his own manager.

“The same would apply at any club but we can only make plans as the situation stands,” added Borley.

Ayre must decide which of the seven out-of-contract City players he wants to keep before tomorrow’s FAW Premier Cup final against Wrexham (2.30) at The Racecourse.

They are ’keeper Jon Hallworth, Jeff Eckhardt, Danny Hill, Jason Fowler, Richard Carpenter, Mike Ford and Lee Phillips.

Carpenter, Hallworth, Eckhardt, Hill and Fowler are likely to be offered new one-year deals.

Jorn Schwinkendorf, the giant German former manager Frank Burrows bought from Mannheim for £110,000, does not figure in Ayre’s plans, and he and Winston Faerber are on the transfer list.

City are intent on finishing a dismal season with some silverware and the £100,000 winners’ prize.

“Wrexham beat us in the final two years ago and knocked us out in the semi-finals last season. We are determined to turn the tables this time,” said Ayre.

“We won our last league game against a Bristol Rovers side not at its best. But Wrexham are at their best. We’ll have to be on top of our game.

“Winning the £100,000 is very important, though once the game starts money is of no concern to the players. All they are bothered about is playing well. But the cash prize could mean the difference between me getting or not getting another player in the summer.”