Yates has signed on for a fourth full season with Kidderminster Harriers

Kidderminster Harriers Mark Yates and his assistant Neil Howarth have signed new one-year deals at Aggborough.

The management duo's existing two-year contracts were up at the end of the season following Harriers' failure to make the Blue Square Premier play-offs.

But after considering offers made last week by chairman Barry Norgrove, they have agreed another season.

Yates, who took over at Aggborough in January 2006, is due to announce next season's retained list on Monday.

Harriers blew their chance of a place in the play-offs by picking up just one point from their final three games.

But, having made considerable progress, there was a fear among home fans that key figures in the squad might move on this summer with Yates forced to operate on a reduced budget.

Local builder Norgrove admits that the impact of the credit crunch means having to keep a close watch on the finances.

Norgrove has confirmed a reduction in the playing staff budget

"It all depends on season tickets and a number of different factors," he said. "Hopefully we can try and raise that budget later as we get nearer the start of the season.

"But, at the moment, it is slightly lower."

The Harriers chairman has confirmed that there has been no official interest in any of their players as yet. But he acknowledges that they face a fight to keep hold of all of them.

"Mark's obviously talking to the players," said Norgrove. "And we will see what comes of it.

"We all know that there are a lot of good players here and they are going to generate a lot of interest around different clubs.

"There are a lot of big clubs in our league and a lot of money will be spent next season by a lot of clubs so we will just have to wait and see."

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