Harriers management sign new deals

Kidderminster Harriers today signed manager Steve Burr and assistant Gary Whild to new contracts that will keep them at Aggborough until the summer of 2014.

The fresh terms replace Burr's current deal, which had another season to run, while Whild would have been out-of-contract in the summer.

The club have been in negotiations with their management duo ever since league rivals Grimsby asked for permission to speak to Burr at the start of the month, which both Harriers and their boss rejected.

Burr has been in charge for the last 14 months, while Whild joined last summer after leaving his post at part-timers Redditch, quitting his day job as general manager at the Aston Arena in the process.

The Harriers boss and his No 2 have led the team to an unbeaten 2011 and into the Blue Square Premier play-off places on one of the tightest budgets of the promotion-chasers with the club, at one point last month, coming within hours of administration.

Fans rallying around to boost the gates and the team's continued success on the field has given Harriers the money to operate until the end of the season, further convincing management that the future is secure at Aggborough.

And chairman Mark Serrell believes today's news shows that the club still have ambition.

He said: "Stability is something the club has been crying out for previously, so we are delighted to have secured Steve and Gary's services for this length of time.

"This gives them a long period to continue the tremendous work they have been doing and allows them to plan for the longer-term future.

"Steve has shown himself to be one of the very best at his job in non-league football and his partnership with Gary has been a real success.

"Hopefully they can continue to reach their ambitions as Kidderminster Harriers looks to do the same."