Boss backs new look Harriers

Kidderminster manager Mark Yates has backed his new-look Harriers team to rise to the challenge of life after James Constable.

The 12-goal leading scorer was the high-profile departure from Aggborough on a frantic day of activity at the end of the January transfer window.

But, while Yates is sad to lose his arch-goalscorer, he insists his reshaped side will stand the club in good stead for a brighter future.

“I am genuinely excited by the new players we have been able to sign,” said Yates.

“We needed to change things around and that’s what we have done.

“We have under-performed and under-achieved this season and no-one knows that better than we do.

“We wanted to be much higher in the league table than we are but we just haven’t played well enough and there come a time when you need to freshen things up, which is what we did on Thursday.”

Constable made the move to Shrewsbury, who rekindled the interest they first showed at the start of the transfer window.

And he was joined on the journey to the New Meadow by goalkeeper Scott Bevan with both players signing for the Shrews for undisclosed fees.

There were more departures from Aggborough with captain Stuart Whitehead the most unexpected among them.

He had his contract cancelled to allow him to sign for AFC Telford for an undisclosed fee while winger Michael Blackwood left the Worcestershire club to link up with Blue Square Premier big boys Oxford on loan for the rest of the season.

However, it was four in and four out as Yates reacted quickly to fill the gap left by the players who left.

Shrewsbury loan two players to Harriers as part of the Constable-Bevan deal.

Goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie, who enjoyed mixed fortunes during an earlier loan spell at Aggborough this season, returned for a second stint.

And Lancashire-born defender Luke Jones, who can play at centre-half or right-back, also checked in for a month with a view to a longer-term deal.

Arriving from elsewhere were Darryl Knights, a diminutive striker from Yeovil, and Wolves’ promising young midfielder Matt Bailey.

And Yates believes the new faces can freshen up his misfiring squad.

He said: “We needed to rebuild, which is not to say we have given up on this season.

“There are still more than 50 points to play for and we will be going all-out to get as many as we can.

“But it was important that we changed things around a bit.

“Chris MacKenzie is someone we know all about and after a disappointing first game he did well for us before.

“Luke is a good young defender who we have watched for a while and Matt is also someone we have had our eye on.

“Darryl is only small but he has good technique and there is also an edge to him.”