September
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Can I wish both of them the best of luck and look forward to seeing both of them being back on the touch lines soon.

The Western Mail carried the following report earlier this week.

FORMER Cardiff City manager Billy Ayre is undergoing the final and
most critical phase of his fight against cancer of the lymph glands.

The 47-year-old is in an isolation ward at a hospital in Ormskirk,
Lancashire, where he is receiving a massive dose of chemotherapy as
well as a stem cells transplant - an operation similar to a bone
marrow transplant.

"I've done all the preparation needed for this," said Ayre, just
before being admitted to hospital.

"They've taken the stem cells out of me and now they're going to
hammer me with more chemotherapy, replace the stem cells and then
we've got to hope they regenerate. That's the plan."

To avoid the risk of infection the former Hartlepool, Halifax and
Mansfield defender will be in isolation for four to six weeks.

"They're the doctors and they know what they're doing but from my
point of view I just want to get it out of the way.

"I like to face things head on. The earlier this happens the better,"
added Ayre, who was also Jan Molby's assistant at Swansea City.

"I'm not at all frightened. I know the risks. The odds of people not
even surviving the treat-ment are 20-1 but that doesn't bother me -
I've backed a few 20-1 winners in my time.

"I know this period coming up is going to be horrible but as far as
I'm concerned it can't come soon enough because I'm itching to get
back to work.

"I had a letter from one of my old Hartlepool team-mates the other
day. He said just think of the cancer as one of the centre-forwards I
used to kick lumps out of. That's one way to look at it I suppose!"
he laughed.

Despite fighting the greatest battle he will face Newcastle-born
Ayre, now a coach at Second Division Bury, has not lost his sense of
hu-"I've lost my hair and even my moustache which I've had for the
last 30 years. I look like Uncle Fester from The Addams Family," he
laughed. "I've even got the red eyes.

"I get a scare every time I look in the mirror. It's shocking. I
don't mind losing the hair but the moustache? No, I'll definitely be
growing that back."

Ayre was first diagnosed with lymphoma six years ago, before he
joined the Swans. He thought he had beaten the disease but it
returned earlier this year.

"I was back in Cardiff last May watching the play-offs at the
Millennium Stadium. I saw the first two but then I felt unwell for
the First Division play-off final between Bolton and Preston and
didn't go," he recalled.

"I went to the doctor, had the tests and discovered the cancer had
come back. It wasn't a total surprise because I had a feeling it was
back.

"One in four people get cancer and I'm pleased it's me and no one
else in my family. I'd rather take it because I think I can deal with
it.

"I've never smoked or drank. I've always kept fit and ate the right
food, but it's just one of those things.

"When I do come back I'm going to be the biggest drinker and
socialiser in the North of England!"

Fitness fanatic Ayre, who last year ran the London Marathon, added,
"The hardest thing about the cancer is that it curtails your normal
lifestyle. People who know me know I love training with players and
running, but I haven't done any running since May.

"I get tired very easily. In fact, I feel like someone twice my age.
It stops you doing anything energetic which, for me, is a nightmare.

"You never know what each day brings - will it be a good day or a bad
one? I've also lost my sense of taste. The treatment has affected the
taste buds, so I can't taste anything I eat." Ayre joined Bury
halfway through last season when they were heading for the Third
Division after only one win in 16 games.

He was brought in to help their inexperienced player-manager Andy
Preece and he played a huge role in the Shakers finishing a
comfortable 16th.

Despite the illness Ayre has done some work for Bury this season.
"I've watched a few games for them but I couldn't do it all the time
because I never knew how I'm going to feel on the day." mour.

The ex-defender initially joined the Bluebirds as assistant manager
to Frank Burrows and helped the Bluebirds win promotion to the
Second Division in 1999.

When Burrows left Ninian Park midway through the following season
Ayre took over but could not stop City being relegated.

New owner Sam Hammam later sacked him after being demoted to coach
following Bobby Gould's arrival.

"One of my mates rang me up recently and I was moaning that two or
three jobs had passed me by," he said.

"But he said it's better to come back in December all guns blazing
rather than rushing back and not being fully fit.

"I'm enjoying my time at Bury but I want to be a manager again."