Jack Byrne backs Harriers to go up

Kidderminster Harriers midfielder Jack Byrne has refuted suggestions that the team are too young to go up after committing himself to another two years at Aggborough.

Byrne signed a new two-year contract on Friday, replacing his existing deal which had another season to run, and could soon become the club's longest-serving player.

Chris McPhee and Tom Sharpe have been at Aggborough since 2009, but both are out-of-contract and could be leaving this summer.

No fewer than new players have been signed for next season and the oldest is striker Steve Guinan at 35 but there's 11 years between him and the next oldest, defender Luke Jones, who is 24.

Most of the Harriers' squad are in their early to mid twenties but Byrne, only 21 himself, doesn't believe that the team lack the experience to better last season's sixth place finish.

He said: "Management have really put across the point that, even though they are signing a lot of young lads, most of them have a fair bit of experience at this level and even higher.

"People judge it as a young side and bring negatives on to it, but I think you have to look at it positively and realise the players are young and hungry.

"They put everything into every game and, whether in the team or on the bench, we're always going to want to prove what we're about."