WREXHAM captain Brian Carey, one of seven players who knows he will be playing third division football at the Racecourse next season, yesterday warned that swift action was necessary to ensure that the club's fall from grace is only temporary.

And, although his own future is secure for another 12 months at least, the 31-year-old defender admitted he was worried for some of his out-of-contract colleagues, who have yet to be told whether they will be offered new deals by manager Denis Smith.

"You only have to look at two players we've picked up this season - Jim Whitley and Kevin Sharp," he said. "Both of them are very good professionals but they struggled to find a club before they came here and that's a sign of the times."

Sources within the game suggest that up to 1,000 players will be looking for new clubs this summer at a time when money, or the lack of it, is threatening the future of a number of Football League outfits.

"It's going to be difficult for players because there is no money in the game any more," added Carey. "The situation is going to get worse, rather than better and that will be particularly felt in the lower leagues."

Carey, who has missed the endofseason run-in because of a stress fracture in his foot, said current uncertainty over the take-over talks between chairman and majority shareholder Pryce Griffiths and property developer Mark Guterman was an added complication.

"The sooner we come to terms with the fact that we've been relegated, the better it will be for all concerned," he said.

"We have to set some targets and goals but the ownership question is a difficult situation for everyone and while that lasts people are unable to get on with their jobs. We need to know in what direction we are going but it's not easy for anyone to plot the way forward."

Pointing out that three of the clubs relegated from the second division last season have struggled in the third division this time round, Carey said it was important Wrexham did not go the same way.

"If we know what the goals are, we can set about getting the club back into the second division," he added.

"Swansea, Bristol Rovers and Oxford United are all in the bottom eight of the third division, but Luton Town, who have bounced straight back, have shown what can be achieved.

"That's not to say it's going to be easy but, hopefully, the manager will have an opportunity during the summer to get the players he wants and, while we know we are not going to have a big squad, we have to start next season in a positive frame of mind."