Harriers could loan out Gavin Caines

Kidderminster Harriers could be set to loan out Gavin Caines to Stafford Rangers in a bid to claw back some of the room the outcast defender takes up in the wage bill.

Caines was allowed to leave Aggborough two weeks ago on trial, with manager Steve Burr desperate to rid the club of the 26-year-old.

The centre-half first went to non-league new-boys Darlington in a bid to stay in the full-time game, with sources suggesting he was considering dropping down the leagues to find a new club.

Part-timers Gainsborough, managed by former Villa and Albion boss Brian Little, were thought to be interested having just offered a deal to Marcus Bignot, a team-mate of Caines' at Harriers last season.

But Caines has instead popped up on the radar at Marston Road, playing for Rangers in their 3-2 friendly defeat against Port Vale last night.

Their manager Chris Brindley needs a new centre-half for the start of the season, with captain Craig McAughtrie suspended for the first two games.

And Harriers may decide to cut their losses and keeps Caines on the wage bill at a subsidised rate while loaning him out, until there is further interest in the player.

The former Cheltenham defender would have been released this summer, but had a appearance-related clause in his contract which triggered an extra year's extension to his deal.

Now Brindley is hoping his club may be able to benefit from the situation.

He said: "We are looking at taking Gavin on loan from Kidderminster. He's not played much and looked a bit rusty. But, if he has another game on Saturday, we can see where we go from there.

"We will have a problem at centre-half, so at least it will give us an option."