SUNDERLAND skipper Michael Gray last night hinted he may be forced to leave the club after over a decade as the impact of impending relegation takes a heavy toll at the Stadium of Light.

Wearsider Gray, who came through the ranks to make his first-team debut in the 1992-93 season, has amassed more than 400 appearances for his boyhood heroes.

But with the Black Cats this week announcing that up to 83 members of staff and around 15 players must go to alleviate debts of over £26m, 28-year-old Gray fears he could facing an emotional summer exit.

Rock-bottom Sunderland's relegation from the Premiership will be sealed if they lose at Birmingham City this afternoon.

Manager Mick McCarthy, who has lost all three games since replacing Howard Wilkinson a month ago, has admitted that his blue-chip players - notably Kevin Phillips and Thomas Sorensen - could be on their way.

And Gray conceded: "That's a scenario we have to look at. You talk about the squad and we know there are a lot of professionals here, and that number is going to get knocked down to a certain amount.

"The squad is going to be depleted a bit, but I'm certain the players who are here - and the young lads pushing for a first-team place - will do a fantastic job at this club.

"And if the case is that we go down, then I know that we have the squad to bounce straight back."

Gray confessed that the extent of Sunderland's financial plight had stunned the playing staff.

He said: "To work here through the week and then go and play your matches on a Saturday at the Stadium of Light is tremendous, but to find out how much money the club is losing - it's a massive amount - is very disappointing for everyone.

"Most of that is happening as a result of the performances on the pitch.

"For all this to come out about the amount of money the club is losing and the number of staff who will lose their jobs is a big disappointment for the whole place.

"It's going to affect the players as well; it's the players, the staff, all the way through the club. We have read about it in the newspapers and we had a meeting on Thursday with the manager and went through it all.

"He has told us that whoever is going to lose their jobs, let's make sure we have a smile on our faces for everyone here over the next two months or so.''

Gray has experienced a roller-coaster ride, with two promotions and now, a second relegation close to be being confirmed.

The former England full-back was also guilty of the infamous penalty failure in the epic 1998 play-off final shoot-out defeat by Charlton Athletic at Wembley.

Some fans haven't forgiven him, and he has been barracked this season. But he maintains he has no regrets.

"I've seen the club move from Roker Park to the best stadium in the country,'' he said. "You come down to the new training facility, which is second to none, and it's a fabulous place to be.

"If you look at the players who have come through the ranks, we have had a great youth system here and, over the years, it has saved the club a lot of money.

"We found ourselves in the Premiership with money being thrown left, right and centre, and we have had to try to keep up with that.

"We have spent a hell of a lot of money and that's why we find ourselves in this situation. Maybe we have to go back to the youth teams and look at what talent we have coming through.

"We should look at the Saturday and Sunday League teams around the area and stop the talent from going elsewhere.

"If I was a boy and I was training here every day, you would certainly get my signature.

"There's no reason why youngsters shouldn't want to come and sign here. If anybody ever asks if I would change anything I have done in my career, I would say, 'Definitely not'. I have loved every minute of it.

"Yes, the Stadium and the Academy weren't here when I first joined. Yes, I have seen us go through bad times.

"But to see what we have here now still makes it extra special.''

If they are beaten today, Sunderland will establish two unwanted club records - ten successive League defeats and 15 games without a win.

But there were signs in the 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea a week ago that McCarthy is already galvanising his side.

"The performance last week was very good, but to lose the game in the manner we did - to a late goal - was a bit of a shock to the system.

"After playing so well we wanted to get something out of the game, give something to the fans and give ourselves some confidence.

"The manager has said that, of the three games he has had here, that was the best performance by a long way.

"If you ask the players they would say the same - it was one of the best performances of the season. Is this worse than our last relegation? Definitely. I sit in the dressing room and feel proud to be next to the players I'm with.

"We have a tremendous squad, a great bunch of lads.

"To see where we have been, finishing seventh two seasons running, and to find ourselves where we are now, is very disappointing. It's somewhere we shouldn't be.''

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