Courtney and Hadley sign for Harriers

Former Burnley defender Courtney and Stourbridge winger Hadley become the first trialists to snare contracts for the new season.

The duo have been impressive in the pre-season schedule so far, playing in all four of Harriers' friendlies, where Hadley in particular has caught the eye.

He came to Aggborough as some what of an unknown quantity, after battling his way through the non-league circuit to star for the Glassboys in the last two seasons.

Now he has reached his pinnacle, he can give up his job as a bricklayer and follow the dream of full-time football - with the blessing of his now former club.

Hadley said: "I have loved being here. I found the first few days hard, but it's been good after that and the set-up is obviously excellent here.

"I want to make it hard for the manager not to pick me. I can't wait to knuckle down and just concentrate on my football. I haven't got to go around doing walls!"

Manager Mark Yates feels that the 22-year-old wide man is a rough diamond to polish over the next year.

He said: "Kyle is raw, quick and whips a great ball in. He could be anything and he'll be a surprise element for a few.

"He's come from lower down, but he's shown he's got decent ability. We'll keep working at him and improving him, because so many of the raw materials are there."

Harriers' management team both know Courtney well - he played alongside assistant boss Neil Howarth at AFC Telford before becoming a £25,000 player in a switch to Burnley in 2005, when Yates on the coaching staff at Turf Moor.

The versatile stopper was last with TNS in Wales.

He said: "They knew what to expect of me anyway, but it was good to come down and get to know the lads before signing and I enjoy it here. I probably should have come here a lot sooner.

"I had the chance to a couple of years back but, coming from Burnley, I felt at the time I needed to play at as high a level as I could."