Kidderminster Harriers’ chairman Barry Norgrove says Mark Yates’ budget will be slashed next season – because the fans have stayed away.

The Aggborough faithful have continued to turn up this season despite an up and down season.

However, Norgrove says the club budgeted for an average attendance of around 2,000 for every home game and the 1,556 simply hasn’t hit the spot.

Yates was given a sizeable budget in the summer as the club hoped to build on their FA Trophy final appearance last year.

But after the team struggled for consistency and the club then sold top scorer James Constable, many fans have become disillusioned with life at Aggborough.

“Last season we budgeted to get average crowds of 2,000 but we’ve only had that once at the start of the season,” said Norgrove.

“We really went for it in the summer and gave the manager a big budget for players. It was probably the biggest we have had since Jan Molby was at the club.

“But the crowds are getting smaller and unless they improve drastically near the end of the season, or the board puts more money into the club, then the manager will have less money to spend next summer.”

Harriers have slashed ticket prices for next month’s Aggborough clash with Ebbsfleet United.

The game, on April 1 (7.45pm), will see a  reduction of £3 to all admission prices, while fans aged under-16 will be admitted into the North Terrace for just £1, which is a reduction of £4.

The junior reduction will remain in place for the home games against Altrincham, Histon and Burton Albion.