Kidderminster Harriers

Harriers reject fans' group bid
Kidderminster chairman Barry Norgrove insists the club will reject any potential takeover offers from fans' group, thepeoplesclub.com. The group contacted Harriers about a possible deal similar to the one agreed between MyFootballClub and Conference rivals Ebbsfleet United. "We made the decision that we won't be accepting any offers for the football club," Norgrove told the club website. "We don't want to sell. The decision was unanimous that we carry on."

Yates unhappy with Harriers' draw
Kidderminster Harriers manager Mark Yates was unhappy with his side's 2-2 draw at Forest Green Rovers on Boxing Day after they twice lost their lead. Harriers scored first in both the first and second halves before Rovers twice pulled them back. Yates said: "We've got a disappointed dressing room, which is good. "The attitude and performance were superb but the bottom line is we're disappointed that after taking the lead twice we didn't get the three points."

Bennett returns to Kidderminster
Chester City midfielder Dean Bennett has joined Kidderminster Harriers on loan until the end of the season for his third spell at the club. Earlier this season the 30-year-old, who played more than 200 games for Harriers between 1999 and 2004, spent three months on loan at Aggborough. "Benno is a good player, he brings energy to our side and he knows the game," said manager Mark Yates. "He's getting better and better and we're glad to have him back." Yates added: "He's getting better and better and we're glad to have him back. We know what qualities he brings and on that score we're delighted." Bennett will be eligible to play for Harriers at York in the Conference on Saturday.

Harriers FA Trophy tie in doubt
Kidderminster Harriers' FA Trophy second round tie at Weymouth is subject to a Saturday morning pitch inspection. Heavy rain has led to serious concerns about the state of the Wessex Stadium playing surface. Harriers' club spokesman Matt Wall told SSB: "Weymouth have had heavy rain overnight, and there is more forecast. "We have asked for an early inspection to prevent our fans making any unnecessary journeys."

Yates still targeting play-offs
Kidderminster Harriers boss Mark Yates is still hopeful his side can make the Blue Square Premier play-offs. Harriers, currently eight points off fifth spot, hope to have a full squad available for Saturday's home clash with Farsley Celtic. "We want to put in a decent performance, Yates told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "We've got a little run going at home. "We want to maintain that and keep winning matches," he added.

Harriers players to blame - Bevan
Kidderminster Harriers goalkeeper Scott Bevan says the players must take the blame for their poor performance at Droylsden on Saturday. Supporters were unhappy with the side's 1-0 defeat, leaving the board and manager Mark Yates under pressure. "We're the ones who've got to take the blame," 28-year-old Bevan told SSB. "The manager prepares us right for these games and, as soon as we step over the white line, it's down to us." Bevan added: "We didn't really perform and, unfortunately, we're not good enough at the moment." Harriers' defeat leaves them 13th in the Conference table, 11 points adrift of the play-off places with 18 games of the campaign to go.

Harriers boss eyeing next season
Kidderminster Harriers boss Mark Yates is challenging his players to earn new contracts for next season. 12th-placed Harriers are now 10 points off the top five in the Blue Square Premier after drawing 0-0 with struggling Northwich on Saturday. "There's every chance we're not going to make the play-offs so we have to plan for next season," Yates told SSB. "The boys that are here now have got to earn the rights for new contracts."

Harriers plan playing budget cuts
Kidderminster Harriers manager Mark Yates has been told he will have a cut in his playing budget next season, but does not yet know how much by. Yates said chairman Barry Norgrove had confirmed to him that he will have less money to spend on players. "I didn't envisage with the way things have gone that I would have as much," Yates told SSB. "You always at this stage, no matter where you are in the league, have to look ahead." Most of the Harriers squad are out of contract at the end of the season.

Yates disappointed with Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers' manager Mark Yates was left frustrated after his side was held 1-1 by Altrincham. Harriers were chasing their fifth straight Blue Square Premier win, but seldom hit the heights of recent games. "We didn't do enough to win the game and it was a disappointing performance," Yates told SSB. "I've talked about how important it is to start off on the front foot and we didn't do that."

Six offered new deals by Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers have offered six players new deals for next season. Strikers Iyseden Christie and Matthew Barnes-Homer and wingers Brian Smikle and Simon Russell have been offered contracts at Aggborough. Goalkeeper Dean Coleman and midfielder Andy Ferrell have also been told that they are wanted by manager Mark Yates. But defender John Munday and winger Michael Blackwood have been told they can leave while Johnny Harkness will join Northern Irish side Linfield. Yates has also told SSB that he is also looking at new additions to his squad. "We've got a number of targets and we'll be trying to make sure that we can sort something out. "First and foremost we must sort out the current squad and see who we keep and who leaves." Harriers finished the season in 13th place in the Blue Square Premier following a 3-0 defeat at Woking on Saturday.

Old pals act working for Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers' Matthew Barnes-Homer says his friendship with co-striker Justin Richards is key to their success in front of goal this season. Barnes-Homer told Hereford & Worcester: "We're good friends off the field and in training. We're trying things together and it's going well. "When the fans are behind us we are lifted and we perform." The pair have each scored five goals this season, lifting the Harriers to ninth in the Blue Square Premier.

Howarth praises influential Moore
Kidderminster Harriers assistant manager Neil Howarth has praised striker Stefan Moore after he inspired them to a 3-1 win over Ebbsfleet. Moore, who joined Harriers for a month on Friday, came on with his team 1-0 down with 28 minutes left and set up their first two goals. Howarth told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "His quality is there for all to see. "He's mucked in well with the lads and has done really well, he just showed his quality for the first two goals." The 25-year-old's addition to the squad was sanctioned by chairman Barry Norgrove, and Howarth says it was appreciated. "Every credit to the chairman, allowing us to bring him here, because things are tight moneywise. "He's backed us to bring in an extra player while Justin is injured, so thanks to the chairman as well. "It was great to see us come from behind, which was good because we couldn't do that last week against Barrow." Moore replaced Darryl Knights and then set up Neil MacKenzie for the equaliser, before supplying the cross for Brian Smikle, who made it 2-1 with his fifth goal of the season. Howarth says Smikle has forced his way into the side after adding goals to his hard-working performances. "Brian missed the first three games of the season but is the perfect example of someone who keeps trying. "We keep telling the lads that even if they're not in the squad they have a part to play. "He is a wide man and he gets in the box well, and heads it as good as anyone in the club including Mark Creighton and he gets on the end of things."

Harriers midfielder leaves club
Midfielder Michael McGrath has left Kidderminster Harriers after the remainder of his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. The 23-year-old, who played 61 times for Harriers after joining in early 2006, has joined Oxford on trial. In his spell at Aggborough, the former Redditch United player scored twice. This season he has only made one substitute appearance against Altrincham and he spent one month on-loan at Worcester City. Oxford are looking for a new midfielder following the departure of veteran Paul Evans and will field McGrath against Didcot on Wednesday.

Yates says squad will bounce back
Kidderminster Harriers manager Mark Yates is confident that his young squad have what it takes to get their play-off challenge back on track. After successive home defeats Yates has noticed a renewed determination among his players during training. "From what I have seen the players were as hurt as I was," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester. "We've got 16 games left and nothing has changed as we are still right in the mix." After the shock of Sunday's 2-1 home reversal against a Northwich Victoria side that arrived at Aggborough as the division's bottom club, Harriers suffered a further setback against Cambridge United on Tuesday night. Matt Barnes-Homer's goal was the one bright spot of an otherwise sub-standard Harriers performance as Yates' side slipped to a 3-1 home defeat. "We'd started off quite brightly but then conceded the penalty followed by the second goal," he said. "We came back into it and scored, but it was a lacklustre performance in the second half. "I told the players a few home truths afterwards in the dressing room." While it would be easy for a largely young squad to be down after two home defeats, Yates insists this is far from the case. And he has detected a steely determination among the players that they have a point to prove when they head to Wrexham next Tuesday night. The Wrexham fixture is dependent on the Welsh club not drawing in Saturday's FA Trophy quarter-final against Ebbsfleet United at the Racecourse Ground. Were that game to finish all square, then there would be a replay which would lead to Harriers' trip to North Wales being postponed. But Yates says he cannot concern himself about issues over which he has no control. "All we can do is prepare for Wrexham and get that shape, desire and commitment back into the team that has not been there in its usual amounts in the last couple of games," he said. "The boys will be fine as I can see in their eyes that they are disappointed and what I have seen on the training ground has really pleased me."

Harriers set for bonding session
Kidderminster Harriers striker Robbie Matthews says the players are hoping a bonding session organised by the club will help their team work. The Harriers are spending a day at an outdoor centre. Matthews, 27, told Hereford & Worcester: "I think we are doing some zip wire and then we are all going out for a meal. It's a group bonding thing. "It's something we have not done yet and I think it's good as you can get to know players a bit better." The striker, who scored his first goal for Harriers against Wrexham last week, said: "I might try and speak to few of the lads and see if we can stitch the management up a be bit. "I hope it isn't too hard, as we could do with a couple of days' rest but it should be fun." Matthews says with some big clubs now in the Blue Square Premier, the Harriers are working on their underdog tag. "The Oxfords, Lutons and Wrexhams of this world, there is a lot expected of them and being the underdog give us a lift," he said. "You go out there and think we are going to show you today, and that's what we did against Wimbledon."

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