Harriers rebuffed for AFC Telford's Jordan Rose

Departing Telford manager Mark Cooper revealed Harriers' interest in the 23-year-old, before leaving to take the assistant manager's job at Swindon today.

He said: "We had an inquiry. That's as far as it's gone. I will speak to Jordan. Like the rest of the players, Jordan owes the club maybe 11 more games."

But Harriers could be back for the centre-half now Cooper, who was reluctant to let the player go, has left the New Bucks Head and could offer players in exchange.

Rose is under contract with the part-timers, who are bottom of the Blue Square Premier, until the end of the season but second-placed Harriers would appeal to him.

Steve Burr's men could go top if leaders Wrexham lose at home to Alfreton and they overhaul a three-point and five-goal deficit when they host Ebbsfleet tomorrow.

Harriers have not been at the summit of non-league's top flight since 2000, when they went on to win the title, and won all five of their games in February.

They will face Ebbsfleet without loanee Amari Morgan-Smith, who has been recalled by Macclesfield. The striker was due to leave after tomorrow's game.

Morgan-Smith played his last game at Nuneaton in midweek, after reporting an incident of racial abuse from away fans during last weekend visit of Alfreton.

Boss Burr is still targeting bringing in another striker, having lost out to Wrexham in borrowing former Birmingham striker Dele Adebola, 37, from Wrexham.

But Burr can all upon another loan forward, Nathaniel Jarvis, who has missed the last four games after returning to Cardiff for treatment on a knee injury.

Captain Keith Briggs is also back after six games out with another knee problem but is set to be on the bench - Harriers have taken maximum points in his absence.