Harriers plan future for Paul Hurrell

Kidderminster Harriers today revealed they will encourage youth team captain Paul Hurrell to further his footballing development away from the club.

Harriers' academy Player of the Year is see to go into part-time football next season, as he is planning to study for a degree in Sports Science.

The midfielder warmed the first-team bench for an FA Trophy game in January, as an unused substitute in a 5-1 win at home to Droylsden.

Hurrell has now reached the end of his academic studies with the club's youth set-up, which were conducted by partners Stourbridge College.

The 18-year-old has already been accepted onto a course at the University of Worcester, who work in conjunction with Harriers and the College.

Academy manager Jerry Gill is also for a semi-pro club for Hurrell to join for pre-season and into the new campaign if he progresses.

And Hurrell is likely be re-registered with the Harriers first-team and the club's Conference Youth League Central Division side, as he's under-19.

Gill said: "Paul will still be under our hat, if you like, he will still do some training with us and can still play in my under-19 side.

"That's the good thing with Paul, he's still only 18, he's caught the gaffer's eye and it's important he remembers that.

"It may mean he spends time elsewhere to further his education, I am trying to get him in for a pre-season somewhere.

"He's got my Player of the Year award this year for the right reasons - he's a leader on and off the field."

Academy left-back Ashley Checketts joined Hurrell on the bench against Droylsden, with Gill there to guide them.

The former Birmingham defender has a spot on the bench every match-day with boss Steve Burr and his assistant Gary Whild.

Gill said: "If they make the right sacrifices and dedicate themselves to the course, there's rewards at the end of it.

"Not only with their education but with their football, that's the carrot for them and I hope they see that.

"I do the match-day stuff with Gary and Steve and we have a relationship, we have daily dialogue about players.

"They watch a lot of the youth team games, too, so there is a pathway through as we play the same way the first team do.

"I must go on record to say that management's support to the academy has been fantastic."