Sydney FC could shed a number of players next year with 14 of the 22-man ... - NEWS.com.au

Exodus ... Sydney FC is facing a player exodus at the end of the season. Source: News Limited

Sydney FC's new coach will have the chance to purge the Sky Blues' squad for next season with the revelation that 14 of the 22-man squad - 60 per cent - are off contract this season.

While chairman Scott Barlow and CEO Tony Pignata sift through resumes from around the world as they hunt a successor to Ian Crook, more than half the playing squad are essentially playing for their continued careers at the club in the wake of the disappointing start to the season.

The list includes imports Kruno Lovrek and Yairo Yau, the latter currently on loan from a club in Panama, with Sydney having to decide whether to offer a transfer fee to make the switch permanent.

It also includes Terry Antonis, recently returned from helping the Young Socceroos qualify for next year's World Cup in Turkey, but who is believed to be eyeing a move overseas.

Antonis trialled with Borussia Monchengladbach last season but no deal transpired, and once he is off contract Sydney won't receive anything for a move.

There is also the question of club captain Terry McFlynn to address; the foundation player has been in and out of the side this season.

Sydney CEO Tony Pignata said that while the club will ideally wait for the appointment of a new coach before offering new deals, talks had begun with certain key individuals.

Pignata also said the contract situation would not force the club's hand, as it weighs up what everyone at Sydney admits is a crucial appointment to resurrect FC's fortunes.

"Nothing's changed in terms of the coaching situation, we won't be pressurised into any sort of a false timeline," Pignata said.

"But we're also hopeful we can move in the right direction as fast as we need to.

"In terms of players, it is a quandary because you want the new coach to come in and have some say about the players that we intend to sign.

"But we don't feel under pressure. It is only two weeks since the off-contract list was circulated, and there's no need to rush it.

"We do have a lot of our own players off contract and there's a few we've earmarked already as wanting to re-sign them for next season.

"We've had a quiet chat with them or their agents to that end, and there's others we'll talk to in the next few weeks about re-signing."

Frank Farina, Ernie Merrick and Graham Arnold all remain linked with becoming the club's seventh coach in eight years, though overseas coaches are also being considered.

Crook resigned in the aftermath of the astonishing 3-2 loss to Melbourne Victory a fortnight ago, citing concerns for his health amid the stress surrounding the role.