Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy spelt out his determination to inject some fresh blood into his side in the summer after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at St. Andrews condemned the Black Cats to First Division football for next season.
The Black Cats' 10th straight loss - their fourth since the former Republic of Ireland boss took charge a month ago – left them 16 points adrift of safety with only five games remaining.
Fading hopes of survival were boosted by McCarthy's arrival as he became the third manager of the campaign at the Stadium of Light, but they soon diminished and the Yorkshireman must now turn his attentions to building a squad capable of returning the Wearside club to the top flight once again.
The new boss knows that his task will be far from easy due to the club's huge financial problems, and his scope for strengthening his squad is likely to be extremely limited.
Add to that the possible departures of established players such as Kevin Phillips, Thomas Sorensen and Gavin McCann and McCarthy faces a very difficult job.
But it is one the Black Cats boss feels he can manage, and he has pointed to the success of clubs like Nottingham Forest and Ipswich this season as examples of what can be achieved.
He said: "It is always a balancing act, even if you have got millions of pounds. Have you seen the dosh that we've spent and where we are?
"Have you seen the dosh that Bob Murray and the board have put into the club and yet we're bottom of the league and getting relegated. It doesn't guarantee you success, does it?
"Look at Nottingham Forest. They are pushing for promotion. They don't spend money. Look at Ipswich. They are doing it. They were struggling like hell so it can be done.
"I don't know as yet what the balancing act is going to be like but I want to freshen things up personally. I want to change faces and I'll discuss that with the board when the time comes.
"We certainly need fresh faces and if we didn't and everything was rosy, then we wouldn't be bottom of the league with 19 points. It has to be done."
McCarthy admitted: "There will be some players who don't want to play in the First Division with Sunderland, some that will go on and play somewhere else and some that I want to change.
"I will be speaking to the players. I will have to get a feel from them all individually as to what they are thinking - and I will give my opinion of what I'm thinking."
He added: "I have had three or four weeks to look at things and, yes, I've got plans formulated. Whether they all come to fruition or not, I don't know.
"It's a difficult time in the transfer market. It is not buoyant and there is going to have to be a bit of wheeling and dealing done to ensure that we are in the best possible shape for next season."
As for the club's immediate goal, Kevin Phillips stressed: "All we've got to play for now is pride and some dignity until the end of the season. We've got to be positive. If we are not positive. then what sort of message does that show to the fans?
"Our aim now is not to finish rock bottom of the Premiership with the worst points total, the worst goals tally. We've still got a bit to play for."
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