FEBRUARY 2001

  • 26/2/01...Jan to face the judge?
  • Jan Molby may be reported to the FA after he was banned from the dug-out for the second half of yesterday's clash with Cardiff.

    Jan was ordered to sit in the stand after an alleged exchange of words with the 4th official as they left the field at the end of the first half.

    Referee Phil Richards said:
    "Molby made a comment to my fourth official on the way off the field which was foul and abusive.
    As a result of that I told Molby that he was no longer able to stay in the dug-out for the second half and that I will be reporting him to the FA for his comments."


    The referee had already given Jan a warning during the first half after he disputed a throw in.

    Jan said that he was sitting in the stand for a better view.

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  • 24/2/01...Harriers entertain the Ru$hden of the 3rd Division.
  • The long awaited game with Cardiff City is finally with us, tomorrow (Sunday 12.00pm), and it looks like its going to be a game to remember.

    Cardiff have been spending new chairman Sam Hamman's money as if it is going out of fashion, reminiscent of Rushden, but will it achieve their aim of promotion?

    Since the start of the season they have paid;

    • WBA £500.000 for defender Daniel Gabbidon
    • Lincoln £550.000 for striker Gavin Gordon
    • Shrewsbury £460.000 for defender David Hughes
    • Rotherham £300.000 for striker Leo Fortune-West

    Plus others too numerous to mention.

    With leading scorer Rob Earnshaw unlikely to return from injury, that means Kyle Lightbourne, signed on a month's loan from Stoke, will be partnered in attack by Paul Brayson.

    For tomorrows game we shall not have the dubious pleasure of seeing either Gordon(3 match) or Fortune-West(2 match) bans for sending offs.
    Also, Cardiffs manager, Alan Cork has been given a £1,000 fine and banned from the touchline for 2 games after abusing the referee at the Torquay away game.

    Cork will also face another fine and ban after his confrontation with the referee at Brighton two weeks ago.

    To add to their woes other players sent off in recent weeks are Josh Low sent off at Blackpool and Andy Legg was sent off at Halifax.

    As for the Harriers they should be mostly unchanged from Tuesdays victory against Southend.
    If Mark Shail has recovered from flu then he should return to the starting eleven with Barry Horne, or preferably, Ian Bogie on the bench.
    Scott Stamps may make a re-appearance after his hamstring injury but not Ian Foster whose hamstring injury is getting worrying.

    Jan Molby is looking forward to seeing how the lads will cope with big spending City;
    "Of course, it won't be easy, but it's nice to play a team like that who have spent over £2million just on bringing in players.
    It's good to test yourself against that, but if you have got the money spend it.
    That's one thing I have learned in management.

    I'm not complaining, though, and it will be a nice test for us.
    Credit to Cardiff, all those players they have brought in, apart from Leo Fortune-West, are all good young players."


    Harriers (from):
    Brock, Clarkson, Medou-Otye, Stamps, Hinton, Smith, Shail, Bennett, Mackenzie, Doyle, Ducros, Durnin, Broughton, Hadley, Clarke, Webb, Horne, Bogie, Corbett.

    Cardiff (from);
    Walton, Hughes, Gabbidon, Weston, Low, Boland, Bowen, Young, Brayson, Nogan, Jordan, McCulloch, Brazier, Lightbourne, Thompson, Perrett, Greene, Bonner, Nugent, Hill, Eckhardt, Fowler, Buttery, Jones, Evans, Collins, Kendall.

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  • 20/2/01...No changes for Shrimpers visit.
  • Jan Molby is expected to name the same team that drew 0-0 at Leyton Orient for the visit of Southend tonight.
    Adie Smith was the only one to receive an injury on Saturday, in the sending off incident with Orients Carl Griffiths, but is expected to shake it off.

    Harriers (from):
    Brock, Clarkson, Medou-Otye, Hinton, Smith, Shail, Bennett, Mackenzie, Doyle, Ducros, Durnin, Broughton, Hadley, Clarke, Webb, Horne, Bogie, Corbett.

    Southend, who were soundly beaten 3-0 at home by Halifax at the weekend will be without David Morley who has left the club by mutual consent and is expected to sign terms with Carlisle United sometime this week.

    Also missing will be Martyn Booty and Leo Roget.
    Roget is in talks with both Crystal Palace and Peterborough.

    It was Roget who scored the equalizer against us in the last few minutes when the teams met at Roots Hall earlier in the season.

    Southend (from):
    Flahavan, Maher, Whelan, Johnson, Lee, Searle, Hutchings, Carruthers, Abbey, Webb, Bramble, Porter, McSweeney, Williamson.

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  • 19/2/01...Didn't you used to play for? LIVERPOOL
  • In an interview in the March edition of 'TOTAL FOOTBALL' Jan Molby talks about his days at Liverpool and also about managing the Harriers.

    What was your best memory of those Anfield days?

    My best memories of my days at Anfield were winning the Double in 1986.

    Although Liverpool had pipped our greatest rivals, Everton, for the Championship winning the FA Cup against the same team was more emotionally satisfying.
    My only regret was not winning the European Cup the following season.

    What was your worst memory there?

    Losing the Championship to Arsenal, it beggared belief.
    We had been so good all season.

    We'd just thrashed West Ham 5-1 which enabled us to lose to lose by one goal to Arsenal and still take the title.
    We were lost for words.
    A lot was made of the fact that we could afford to lose and thats what cost us.

    Off the pitch Hillsborough and Heysel were the worst things I've ever been through.
    Certainly Hillsborough left an emotional scar on me.

    With Heysel, once we'd got back it was a bit distant.
    Although it was a massive disaster, it probably didn't touch the heart as much as Hillsborough where all our own people lost their lives.

    You played under a succession of managers at Anfield?

    Four in all.
    Joe Fagan, who bought me to Anfield, kept himself in the background. He could go for days without saying anything.

    Kenny Dalglish tried very hard to impress, and he did because in his first season he won the double.
    He had a lot of different training and tactical ideas.

    You also played under Souness and Roy Evans. Who influenced you most when you went to Swansea as player/manager?

    Without a doubt Kenny.
    A lot of things he did impressed me, not least keeping a squad of internationals happy.
    We had what Manchester Utd have now - a group of players who didn't want to leave the club.

    What are your impressions of the current Liverpool squad?

    Houllier is doing an excellent rebuilding job.
    It's very hard to do as a manager but it seems to me he's told the board how long it will take and we have to accept that.

    What has managing Kidderminster been like after playing for Liverpool?

    There's a massive difference between the Third Division, where we are now, and when I took over in the Conference.
    We only trained twice a week and had to do so on the pitch because that was the only place with floodlights.

    I don't have any ambition to manage Liverpool, but I'd still like to move to a higher level.

    That doesn't include Denmark.
    It just doesn't appeal to me because there is no everyday involvement.

    You haven't a trace of a Danish accent any more. Do you consider yourself English?

    Once a Dane always a Dane and I try to speak Danish to my children.
    Also, I work for Danish television.
    But I have to say I think and dream in English and probably speak it better than my native tongue, which I never thought could happen.

    ©Future Publishing

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  • 16/2/01...Drewe signs on just in time.
  • Harriers have, today, confirmed the signing of Drewe Broughton from Peterborough for a fee of £50,000 along with a three and half year contract.

    Jan Molby said:
    "We have agreed a fee with Peterborough and Drewe.
    He has done very well for us so far and I'm sure he'll be an asset for us in the future.
    His attitude has been first class and he has settled in well here.

    He knows he can become a better player at Kidderminster, he has moved here for footballing reasons, not financial ones."


    Jans next job will be to get Neil Mackenzie to sign a similar contract.

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  • 16/2/01...Reds travel to the Far East.
  • Harriers travel to East London tomorrow hoping that they will be taking Drewe Broughton with them and not meeting him already there.
    Orient have made no secret of the fact that they too would like to obtain the services of the Harriers on loan marksman.

    Orient are thought to be about to offer Peterborough more money than the Harriers will to take him to Brisbane Rd, so all it needs is some urgency by the Harriers and the signature of Broughton to make sure he travels with us tomorrow.

    Boro's boss, the legendary Barry Fry, says that Drewe wants to go to Aggborough permanently.
    "We've agreed a fee and Drewe wants to move to Kidderminster, he loves it there," said Fry.

    Drewes agent, Colin Gordon, was not expecting any problems.
    "The move won't break down because of financial reasons.
    Drewe has the utmost respect for Jan Molby. You have to enjoy going to work and he enjoys doing that at Kidderminster.

    There's a great atmosphere at the club and the manager believes in him.

    Providing they don't offer him £15 a week with a paper round he will sign!"


    So if Drewe do's the right thing and signs then the only ones missing tomorrow will be Scott Stamps and Ian Foster who are both still suffering from hamstring injuries.

    Harriers (from):
    Brock, Clarkson, Medou-Otye, Hinton, Smith, Shail, Bennett, Mackenzie, Doyle, Ducros, Durnin, Broughton, Hadley, Clarke, Webb, Horne, Bogie, Corbett.

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  • 14/2/01...Molby hopeful of extending Maccas' contract.
  • Jan Molby is to start talks with Neil Mackenzie and his agent about the possibility of Neil still being at Aggborough next season.

    Jan knows that the club have got to act soon to secure the long term future of the 24yr old.
    And the fans will make sure that Neil knows it too after witnessing some fine displays in recent weeks.

    After Macca scored against Barnet last Saturday he revealed that Jan Molby had already spoken to him about a new contract.

    Molby said;
    "He has the passing ability, the ability to get goals, even if he hasn't got had that ratio in his career so far, and he has this incredible fitness to be able to run games.

    He is involved all the time because he demands the ball from his team mates and gets people involved.

    But another good thing is that he doesn't have a problem with telling his team mates what he thinks of them if he feels they have done something wrong."


    Macca echoed this saying;
    "I want to stay, we'll have to get together and sort something out.
    If I didn't think the potential was here at the club then I wouldn't be looking beyond this season.

    But the gaffer is always looking to make things better and I want to be a part of that."

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  • 13/2/01...Shrews game date announced.
  • The game at Shrewsburys Gay Meadow that was postponed on the 6th of this month because of a waterlogged pitch has been re-arranged for Tuesday 20th March (KO 7.45pm).

    The match will still be all-ticket for away fans (that means us).

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  • 9/2/01...Defensive changes for Barnet?
  • Harriers face Barnet at home tomorrow knowing that it is three points or else.
    After failing to win so far this year and continually conceding silly goals we are getting too near the drop zone for comfort.

    Barnet should be the ideal opponents to get back on winning ways because they are also in the middle of a slump, having lost six of their last nine games which included a 6-1 thrashing at Hartlepool.

    Harriers should have Parfait and Scott Stamps back to help shore up the leaky defence, allowing Adie Smith to move back into midfield at the expense of Dean Bennett.
    On the bench could be Stewart Hadley and Ian Bogie who both had a successful run out against Hereford in a reserve match during the week.

    Barnet are managed by Tony Cottee who spent his career scoring goals for fun with Everton, Leicester, West Ham and Norwich and is still popping the odd one in the net for Barnet.

    Jan Molby said:
    "Barnet are going through a bit of a similar run to ourselves, having lost six of their last nine league games. Tony Cottee has obviously got his own ideas and it takes a little bit of time for a new manager.

    We know we played well against them down there, but Barnet will be thinking a little bit like us and that's if you produce a fantastic run between now and the end of the season you have got an outside chance of the play-offs.

    The one we have to watch tomorrow is Tony.
    His goals, although the results would suggest otherwise, have played a big part, but they have got a number of good players."


    Harriers (from):
    Brock, Clarkson, Medou-Otye, Hinton, Smith, Shail, Bennett, Mackenzie, Doyle, Ducros, Durnin, Broughton, Hadley, Clarke, Webb, Horne, Stamps, Bogie.

    Barnet (from):
    Harrison, Stockley, Flynn, Arber, Heald, Goodhind, Brown, Niven, Gower, Cottee, Richards, Naisbitt, Sawyers, Bell, Currie, Basham.

    Referee is Mr.S Baines (Chesterfield)

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  • 7/2/01...Details of Cardiff ticket arrangements.
  • The club have released the details for tickets for the game against Cardiff due to be played at Aggborough on Sunday 25th February (12.00 noon KO).

    The match is all ticket for both sets of fans.
    Tickets for Harriers fans only will go on sale from the Ticket Office before and after Saturday's game against Barnet.

      SEATS:
    • Adult £12
    • Concessions £8

      TERRACES:
    • Adult £9
    • Adult £6

    The Ticket Office is open Monday to Friday (9.15am - 4.45pm);
    First Team Matchdays (9am - 3pm & 4.45pm - 5pm)
    And also on Saturday 24th February (10am - 12 noon).

    Tickets can also be purchased by telephone (01562 823931).

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  • 6/2/01...Shrewsbury clash called off.
  • Tonights league game at Shrewsbury has been called off as expected because of the water logged pitch.

    The Gay Meadow pitch was still badly cut up from Saturday's draw against Hartlepool following heavy weekend rain and the club had already cancelled a reserve game against Darlington that was due to be played tomorrow (Wednesday).

    No date has been set yet for playing this match.

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  • 5/2/01...Gay Meadow on flood alert.
  • There is a possibility that tomorrows game at Shrewsbury may be called off if it rains again overnight.

    The pitch is already very wet and now the River Severn at Shrewsbury was put back on flood alert at dinnertime today.

    There will be an inspection at 10.00am tomorrow morning.

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  • 5/2/01...Molby slams defence, changes on the way.
  • After Saturdays demoralising defeat against Carlisle on Saturday, when the Harriers again went down to two early goals, Jan has promised that as soon as he can he will make some defensive changes.

    Without naming names he said that if Parfait is fit for the Shrewsbury game then he will play him.
    It looks like he will replace the out of form Ian Clarkson.

    The other player to be replaced will probably be Mark Shail for Adie Smith, Scott Stamps (if fit) will take up his usual berth at left back in place of Adie.

    "We lost because the defenders didn't do their jobs and I expect more from experienced players.
    At the first given opportunity, there will be changes in the defence, that's for sure.

    In the second-half, we had 90 or 95 per cent of the play but it doesn't really matter because we have lost 2-0 due to our defending.
    The defenders haven't done their job.
    We have one or two experienced players at the back and they have to do more, take more responsibility."


    Jan added:
    "We have brought in better players and we are playing football at a higher tempo than earlier in the season but we have ended up with a defence that cannot defend."

    But he still thinks that the current squad will come good to put an end to the worst run of his managerial career.

    "This is the biggest test I have had, but we remain positive.
    If people look at the league table they will see that if we win tomorrow we go up to 10th and if we draw we go 12th.

    If that is relegation danger then 14 or 15 teams could go down."

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  • 2/2/01...Is this the team to out fox the foxes?
  • Tomorrow comes another meeting with our old friends Carlisle Utd.
    This will be the fourth meeting this season between the two clubs with, so far, the Cumbrians holding the upper hand with two wins against one for the Harriers.

    The first meeting on 2nd September at Aggborough ended with a shock 1-0 league win for Carlisle after scoring from a break away after being totally outplayed for 85 minutes.
    The next meeting was in the FA Cup 2nd round on December 9th when Carlisle outplayed us and won 2-0 to go into the 3rd round and a high profile tie with star studded Arsenal.
    Carlisle did the 3rd division proud and held them to the single goal although there was a controversial incident involving Richard Prokas.

    On the 12th December the Harriers regained a bit of pride when we ended up victors, 2-1, in the LDV Trophy 1st round game at Aggborough.

    So a win tomorrow should even things up a bit.

    Expected back will be Parfait Medou-Otye after his hamstring injury, and not before time.
    Paul Webb should be fit again after receiving an eye injury at the end of last weeks 2-2 draw with Hull City.

    Scott Stamps is very doubtful after being replaced at halftime at Plymouth with a recurrence of his hamstring problem.

    Definitely out will be Dean Bennett who broke a bone in his foot against Plymouth, Ian Bogie still with his back injury and both Ian Foster and Stewart with hamstring injuries.
    Hadley may start making his comeback by playing in a few reserve outings starting from this week.

    Harriers (from):
    Brock, Clarkson, Stamps, Hinton, Smith, Shail, Ducros, Mackenzie, Doyle, Durnin, Broughton, Horne, Clarke, Bird, Corbett, Medou-Otye, Webb.

    Jan Molby said:
    "We have got to put the previous matches against them to the back of our minds.
    We have played them three times already but they are a bit like Plymouth, who we met on Tuesday.

    They are on the up.

    They have had some decent results and they are trying their best to climb away from that bottom spot they are occupying at the moment.
    In the FA Cup against us they played some good stuff.

    There's no doubt they have got good players and they'll battle.
    I don't think they are the worst team in the division by a long way.
    They are starting to put one or two results together and it's another tough game for us."


    Carlisle expect to have no problems for the game with the only doubts being Galloway who limped off at York midweek.
    Galloway recently signed for the Cumbrians from Chesterfield.

    And fringe player Craig McAughtrie who has a broken toe.

    Carlisle (from):
    Glennon, Birch, Whitehead, Winstanley, Morley, Maddison, Prokas, Galloway, Soley, Dobie, Stevens, Halliday, Heggs, Darby, Hemmings, Connelly.

    Carlisle team news courtesy of CUFCONLINE

    Referee P Danson (Leics)

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