Harriers are docked five points

Kidderminster Harriers will go to Gateshead looking to put a dent in a deficit after being docked five points by the league's governing body.

Harriers accepted a charge of misconduct under Rule 18 yesterday afternoon, after submitting inaccurate financial information to the Conference between October 2009 and June 2010.

The league's board informed the club last night of their punishment, which also includes a £5,000 fine suspended for two years.

There is a right of appeal, but it's more likely that the final verdict will be the end of the matter.

It comes with Harriers still under severe financial pressure, needing to find around £120,000 just to stay afloat between now and the end of the season.

However, manager Steve Burr is still hoping to make signings in this month's transfer window, after allowing defender Ollie Thorne to join league rivals Rushden & Diamonds on a month's loan.

The deal, which could result in a permanent move, frees up some much-needed room in the wage budget.

The Harriers boss has a couple of targets in mind and is interested in former loanee Marc Williams, currently operating without a contract at Wrexham, and Kettering midfielder James Dance.

In the meantime, Harriers travel to Gateshead without defender Mark Albrighton, who is suspended for the next two games after a red card in Monday's 2-2 draw at Tamworth.

Sixth-placed Harriers picked up that point as tomorrow's opponents were being resoundly beaten 5-1 at Southport, their second heavy defeat in a row after losing 3-0 at home to York.

However, Burr has warned his players to beware of a Gateshead backlash, despite the 11 league positions between the two teams.

He said: "It's probably not the best time to play them on the back of a 5-1 defeat.

"I know, from experience, if you have been beaten heavily you always come out in the next game with a point to prove, that it was a one-off.

"The reality is that if you play a team that has just lost like that, it's always a tougher game."