Harriers takeover nears conclusion

Kidderminster Harriers' players and staff were today keeping their fingers crossed that the takeover bid that will save the club from financial ruin goes ahead.

Warwickshire-based businessman Chris Swan, having completed the due diligence process, hopes to become Harriers' new owner by the end of the day.

Should the deal be completed, the 52-year-old property developer will assume control of a club that is due to be wound up later this month, have not paid wages out for the month of January and are reported to be £120,000 in debt.

Swan's vital cash injection would change that and, on the field, the team have gone on a run of one defeat in eight games since the turn of the year.

Harriers sit sixth in the Blue Square Premier just four points away from the play-offs, despite having five points deducted for financial irregularities.

The long-awaited takeover could be an end to the turmoil behind the scenes and assistant manager Gary Whild has paid tribute to how the workforce have stuck together.

He said: "The main thing is that, first and foremost, the club has got a future as it is - in the Blue Square Premier as a full-time operation with a chance of progressing.

"The lads have been fantastic in doing their talking on the pitch, the reward for them is that finally things are going to get sorted out and they can look forward to a more stable future.

"That's what people have to realise. OK, it's football but, for all of the staff at the club, it's their livelihoods and it's human nature to worry about it.

"Having points deducted was another difficult one for the players, who had earned the rewards on the pitch and then had them taken away.

"It would be good to finally draw a line under it all and move forward with a bit more stability."