Kidderminster defender Martin Riley has every confidence the right partner will be signed and placed alongside him before the season starts.

The 21-year-old has been earmarked as a potential leader of the Harriers defence this season, after his former mentor and skipper Mark Creighton left for Oxford.

Riley is still awaiting word from manager Mark Yates on who will be coming in to compete with and complement the young stopper, who enjoyed a breakthrough season at Aggborough after arriving as an unknown quantity from Wolves last summer.

Yates could look to Gavin Caines or Liam Dolman – both experienced Football League defenders on trial at the club – or even try to unearth another gem in free agent Tom Sharpe.

Moving new signing Duane Courtney, who can play anywhere across the back four, from right-back to the centre is another option.

Or the manager could throw a curve-ball and sign someone from outside the club.

Whatever happens, Riley is ready for it.

He said: “It doesn’t really bother me. The lads that have come in have all done well and, although the personnel has not finalised as yet, I know the gaffer will bring in the quality we need at the back.

“We will have to see who is brought in, but it would be nice to get a partnership up and running.”

Riley admits he nearly left the club at the end of his contract in the summer, but is now looking to kick on for Harriers after signing a new one-year deal.

He feels his decision to stay was the right one.

The defender said: “It looked like I wasn’t coming back. There was interest in me from clubs at League One and League Two level and, at one point, it looked like I was off.

“But, looking at the situation, I think that staying here under the management team – who brought me on so much last year – is the best thing for me to do at this stage of my career.”