John Eustace eager to add new players at Kidderminster Harriers

The paucity of resources currently available to Eustace was laid bare when the manager was only able to name four substitutes for Monday’s 2-0 defeat at Brackley Town, a result which continued the club’s underwhelming start to the National League North campaign.

Eustace has made no secret of his desire to strengthen a squad which lost several key names over the summer, while chairman Colin Gordon this week admitted Harriers are ‘desperate’ to bring in new blood in several positions.

But financial reality and the need to target players better than what they already have mean those efforts are for now meeting with frustration.

“We are doing the best we can to bring players in,” said Eustace. “Unfortunately at the moment there are players who do not want to come to us.

“There is a lot of money flying about and we can’t compete financially with some of the other clubs in the division.

“We have to get our head down and work hard.”

Monday’s defeat left Harriers, who finished runners-up last season, down in 14th after seven games.

Eustace, who was without new boys Joel Taylor, Joe Ironside and Dan Bradley at Brackley, remains confident his young team will eventually find their feet.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised at the start we’ve had,” he said. “We lost a lot of players over the summer.

“So far we have played three of the top teams who were able to keep their team together.

“They have the experience we are lacking at the moment.

“We are trying to bring in better players but they are going to other clubs. For now, we have to be patient.”