BURY coach Billy Ayre has spoken out about the biggest battle of his life - beating cancer, writes STEVE CANAVAN.

Ayre was devastated when he found out a cancer of the lymph glands - which he first suffered from six years ago - had returned to his body with a vengeance.

It was diagnosed despite Ayre feeling fitter than ever; he had even run the London marathon last year.

He revealed too he was staggered by the level of support he had received from fans throughout the country.

Ayre pulled no punches as he talked about his illness, which will cause him to miss the start of the football season for the first time ever.

"It has come as a bombshell, completely out of the blue," said Ayre, who joined Bury as first team coach midway through the season and has proved a great success. "I first had it just prior to joining Swansea City six years ago but I've been as fit as a fiddle ever since.

"For the last five or six years I've never missed a match and I ran in the London Marathon last year.

"But with this disease you are never in full remission and the cancer has come back with a vengeance. Things have taken a turn for the worse in the last month. "It is hard but like football life is all about peaks and troughs and you have to enjoy the good times. I've always been a battler and many people have been a lot worse than me."

Ayre is on his third type of chemotherapy. Doctors are attempting to stabilise the condition before carrying out an operation. "The operation will be similar to a bone marrow transplant but that is some two months away," explained Ayre.

"After that there is the recovery part so I'll miss the start of the new season for the first time in my life as a player or on the managerial side.

"Bury are hoping to have me back before Christmas but we'll have to wait and see."

Bury Football Club opened a special message board on their website when news of Ayre's illness was announced.

Hundreds of fans from around the country have visited the board to add messages of support and Ayre - with his toughman Geordie reputation - admits it has touched him.

"I'm absolutely knocked over by the support. So many people have taken the trouble to make their feelings known and it shows what true fans are about," he said.

"Their support has been a great comfort to me since I learned I had the disease."

Though he hopes to be back sooner, Ayre is targeting 26 January, 2002, as his comeback game; when the Shakers take on his last club, Cardiff City, at Gigg Lane.

Ayre has a lot of freinds from his time in South Wales and he is looking forward to being at the match.

"That is the game etched in my mind because it will mean so much to me," confirmed Ayre.

"It would be great to get back for the Cardiff match and that is my goal but I am just taking it one day at a time."

Fans wishing to send messages of support to Billy Ayre can do so at the club's internet site at: www.buryfc.co.uk

Go to the message board section and follow the on-screen instructions. All messages are forwarded to Billy.