Mike Marsh - reluctantly released

Molby has lost his former Liverpool colleague Mike Marsh - "the best player in the Conference bar none last season " - but has also made crucial signings.

He broke the club's transfer record to sign Andy Ducros from Nuneaton Borough - a player who scored against Kidderminster in a rare home defeat last season.

And Molby has also brought in an old Mersey derby adversary in Barry Horne, as player-coach.

He said: "Andy was big buy for us, but he is a player who will give us something different this season. He is still only 21 and played nine games in the Premiership for Coventry City and will only improve.

"Barry is a man of massive experience for club and country, and I am delighted to have him here. He will be a great influence and I've wanted him for a long time.

"It was disappointing to lose Mike Marsh, but we knew we would have to face this if we got promoted because he had already had an insurance pay out and couldn't play in the league for us. It was not something that came as a shock."

Molby admits there may be mental barriers for his players to break through, starting on Saturday when they face Torquay United at home.

He said: "The challenge for the players now is to take on their professional status. When you train on Monday and Thursday there is time to recover.

Barry Horne - experienced addition to squad

"You are not necessarily looking at playing another game quickly. It will require a stronger mental approach - and we will not know who has got it until we kick off on 12 August.

"The players will soon realise - and I will realise - who has got what it takes to achieve what we want here at Kidderminster.

"They will also have to bounce back from setbacks. A good start is essential for us, otherwise doubts might creep in to some players about whether they have what it takes.

"But I am very optimistic about what we have here. I would say there are definitely four or five clubs who would consider themselves real promotion challengers.

"You could then have lots of others thinking about the play-offs if they get it right. I think we can certainly count ourselves among them."