Burr taking time to decide on squad

Kidderminster Harriers manager Steve Burr will not be rushed into decisions about the futures on the soon to be out-of-contract players at Aggborough.

The club are expected to announce a retained list early next month, which will detail who will be offered terms to stay and who will definitely be leaving for pastures new.

Just four already have deals for next season - captain Chris McPhee, Jack Byrne, Robbie Matthews and assistant boss John Finnigan - while 13-goal top scorer Brian Smikle is the only player confirmed as having been made a new contract offer.

But none of the squad are free to leave before next month at the earliest, and the manager wants to use the time to make sure some big calls are the right ones.

Burr said: "The players contracts don't run out for at least a week or so yet - some are May, some are June, so it does give me a bit of space.

"I have spoken to the players without making any final decisions and, as soon as we're clearer at our end about what we can and can't do, we'll make decisions on certain players' futures at the club.

"I always find the summer a bit of an annoying part of the game because you spend it dealing with contracts and agents - some are okay, others are not so good.

"But it does give me a bit more time to negotiate with players who either do want to stay or who we feel we should move on.

"I would think within a couple of weeks we'd know what's what. The season has just finished, so it's time to look at the bigger picture and clear your head."