BILLY Ayre, the coach at Bury Football Club, is fighting cancer.

The 49-year-old fitness fanatic, who ran the London Marathon last year, has been diagnosed with a cancer of the lymph glands, which he first contracted six years ago.

Mr Ayre said: "It has come as a bombshell, completely out of the blue.

"I first had it just prior to joining Swansea City six years ago but I've been as fit as a fiddle since.

"For the last five or six years I've never missed a match. But with this disease you are never in full remission and the cancer has come back with a vengeance."

Mr Ayre, who lives in the Southport area, has proved an asset to the club since he joined Bury as first team coach midway through last season.

But he said: "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." Club chairman Terry Robinson expressed his extreme regret at the news.

"Bury Football Club will be giving Billy their full support and wish him well on everyone's behalf."

Mr Ayre is on his third type of chemotherapy. Doctors are trying 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," he explained.

"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."

Hundreds of well-wishers have left messages on the club's website.

Added Mr Ayre: "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.

"Their support has been a great comfort."