Harriers prepared to accept charge

Kidderminster Harriers will today face their league governing body prepared to "accept the consequences" of a financial irregularities charge.

And a points deduction, but not a fine, appears the most likely outcome.

Harriers were charged last month under rule 18 - giving inacurrate financial information to the league - relating to discrepancies regarding a Financial Reporting Initiative during the period between August 2009 and May 2010.

They attended a first meeting and were then granted a second personal hearing just before Christmas, where the matter was to be resolved, which was snowed off by the weather.

Chairman Mark Serrell will today argue in mitigation that the charge relates to a time when neither he, or his predecessor David Reynolds, were at the helm.

They completed their takeover last October, taking over from ex-chairman Barry Norgrove who had been running the club since 2005.

But it's unlikely to be enough to escape a punishment from the league, where Harriers lie sixth going into today's hearing.

Serrell said: "The charges relate to a period when the club wasn't under our stewardship, so we are hoping the Conference will take that into account in mitigation. That is all we can ask for really.

"We are hoping they will be lenient because of that but, at the end of the day, rules are rules. If we have broken the rules, we have to be prepared to accept the consequences. We will have to take whatever punishment is given.

"I suppose the one thing we are concerned about, depending on what happens today, is how it affects potential negotiations with people getting involved in the club.

"It may have an adverse affect and that is why we tried to get this matter resolved before Christmas."