Harriers near to deal for goalkeeper

Kidderminster Harriers are hopeful of signing of a new goalkeeper by the time the players return for pre-season training next week - and a striker could follow.

The club currently only have one goalkeeper on their books in Danny Lewis, a summer signing from Redditch, after releasing Dean Coleman and Jasbir Singh this summer.

But they hope to add a second-choice in the coming days to fight with Lewis for the jersey next season, in what is described by assistant boss Gary Whild - who was instrumental in bringing Lewis with him from his former club - as "a real prospect."

The long-running chase to boost Harriers' firepower is also rumbling on, as Whild and boss Steve Burr continue talks with the long-elusive player released from a Football League club this summer about a move to Aggborough.

Burr is being forced to play the waiting game with his main target for the role, at a time when just transfer-listed Robbie Matthews and captain Chris McPhee - predominately a midfielder - represent his forward options.

But his assistant is hopeful a deal will eventually be done.

He said: "I think we're close to getting the goalkeeper situation sorted out now, we have our eyes on a real prospect who we think can come in and do well.

"The striker is a bit more difficult - they always are - and that is the case all over the country and at any level.

"Goalscorers are very highly sought after and nobody knows that better than the players themselves, so it can be tricky to tie them down at times.

"But we are hopeful of moving forward."