MacKenzie wants to stay a Harrier

Wednesday 1st October 2008, 8:15AM BST.

neil-mackenzie.jpegKidderminster loan midfielder Neil MacKenzie admits he would love to stay at Aggborough for longer than one month but concedes the decision is out of his hands.

The 32-year-old arrived for a second spell with the Harriers last week from League Two Notts County, after falling out of favour at Meadow Lane. He previously represented the club for a one-season spell in 2000/01.

Manager Mark Yates has already conceded that the probability of keeping the experienced Football League player on a permanent basis is slim, such are the wages he is on at his parent club.

The two sides have come to an agreement for the initial one-month deal, with Harriers paying only a fraction of MacKenzie’s earnings.

If that is an agreement that could be extended if the former Stoke player excels at Aggborough, possibility even until the player contract at Ian McParland’s side is up at the end of the season, MacKenzie would be open to the idea.

He said: “I don’t want to go back to Meadow Lane, full stop. I have read between the lines and, in the conversations I have had with the manager, there is nothing for me there.

“There is the possibility that I could stay with Kidderminster, but we will have to see what happens. I have got this initial month to get myself into the team and show what I can do, then I will see where I stand.

“As far as I know from a financial standpoint, the two clubs have come to some sort of an arrangement on my wages. I don’t know the details, that is for the clubs to sort out.”

MacKenzie has not come to Aggborough out of necessity, but out of desire. He had an offer on the table from another Blue Square Premier outfit in York City, before the Harriers made their formal move.

In the end he rejected the chance to link up with ex-Kidderminster midfielder Simon Russell at Kit Kat Crescent and opted to rejoin his former club.

He said: “York contacted Notts with a view to taking me on loan as well. I could have gone, but once I knew Kidderminster were interested that was the only place I wanted to go.

“York is a hell of a long way away from the Midlands, so I didn’t really fancy that. I am a Birmingham lad and obviously know Harriers well, so they are ideal for me.”



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.