Kidderminster Harriers chief fires 'minnows' warning ahead of National League Premier return

Director of football Dean Holdsworth says Kidderminster Harriers “won’t accept being minnows” in the National League Premier.

Harriers are preparing for what will be just their second season in non-league football’s top flight since 2016, following last term’s promotion from National League North.

Their most recent appearance lasted for only one campaign as they were relegated in 2024 but despite a hectic summer to this point, with Paul Wotton replacing Adam Murray as manager, Holdsworth is heading toward the season with confidence.

In a rare interview with the club’s own media channel, the former Wimbledon and Bolton striker claimed the long-term aim will be to push for a return to the EFL.

Holdsworth explained: “I think this club needs to be in this division and pushing higher, when we can.

“I don’t accept we get through the play-offs and go into a new division. I want to aim higher.

“People outside this club will say you are going to be one of the minnows in this division.

“I have been a minnow with clubs and I loved it. I know what it is like to be us against the world.

“I went to unbelievable stadiums and won, many times. Us against the world is quite a nice place to be.

“It is not a foregone conclusion we are going to be a minnow. I want to be a Goliath.

“I think Paul shares that aim. We want to make some noise and let these players express themselves and become league players.”

Harriers were rocked by the sudden exit of Murray, who left for Barrow just days after victory in the play-off final secured the club’s second promotion in four seasons.

Former Torquay boss Wotton arrived in late May and together with Holdsworth has begun building a squad ahead of the new season.

A squad of around 20 players is desired with Holdsworth eager to avoid the same scale of turnover as recent seasons.

He continued: “I won’t accept that we should be a minnow in this division.

“We will lose games. That is a fact. It might be different to the last two years, when we have won a lot of games.

“It is not about how you get beat, it is about how you react to getting beat that is most important.

“Football doesn’t give you character, it finds out if you have any. We have some characters.”