SHATTERED

Hayter is understood to be a target for Cardiff City and could be set to follow Wade Elliott and Garreth O'Connor through the exit door.

Midfielders Elliott and O'Connor yesterday joined Championship outfit Burnley after agreeing three-year deals at Turf Moor.

The out-of-contract pair, both key members of Sean O'Driscoll's squad, were entitled to leave on Bosman free transfers.

And reports in South Wales suggest Hayter may also be on his way, with the Cherries hitman among a list of possible summer targets for Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence.

Lawrence is still desperate to find a replacement for Robert Earnshaw and Hayter is believed to be one of six strikers the Bluebirds boss had watched last season. And Lawrence was also given a taste of Hayter's pedigree at first hand when he netted twice against the Bluebirds in the Carling Cup at Dean Court last season.

The Cardiff short-list also includes Swindon's Sam Parkin, Adam Boyd of Hartlepool, Sheffield United's Luke Beckett, Phil Jevons at Yeovil and Wrexham's Juan Ugarte.

However, although Hayter still has a year to run on his existing deal, Cherries could be tempted to cash in now rather than watch him walk away for nothing in 12 months' time - like Elliott and O'Connor.

The club's precarious financial predicament leaves them open to reasonable offers, while Hayter would also be within cash-strapped Cardiff's price range.

Despite the speculation surrounding Hayter, Cherries chairman Peter Phillips told the Daily Echo that the club had not received bids for any of its contracted players.

Phillips - speaking in general about the prospect of selling players and not specifically about Hayter - said it was "club policy to try to keep as many of our excellent squad together as we can".

But he added: "At this level, clubs traditionally have to survive by selling players. We're not in a position to turn down good offers for players any more than any club you would care to name in this division, but that's just a fact of life in League One."

Cherries will be hoping to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season, with former loan signing Steve Cooke and Swindon midfielder Brian Howard likely to be among the possible candidates to replace Elliott and O'Connor. The club could also renew its interest in Eastleigh striker Andy Forbes should Hayter leave.

Phillips said: "One of the things about Wade and Garreth going is that at least it was sorted out very quickly and that means we've got more time and more options in terms of finding replacements and strengthening the squad for next season.

"Obviously there will be new players arriving which I think will excite the fans. Sean's got a very good record of finding talented young players."

Meanwhile, O'Driscoll is today expected to have a second round of talks with the club's 10 out-of-contract players. They are Karl Broadhurst, Marcus Browning, Alan Connell, Steve Fletcher, Shaun Maher, Steve Purches, Gareth Stewart, Jason Tindall and Neil Young.