After what seems like months of waiting patiently the Harriers board today announced Steve Burr as the new manager of Kidderminster Harriers FC.  Burr had just signed a new two year contract at Stalybridge Celtic (obviously got a canny board there) but has now agreed to leave them to take up the vacant position here.

More famous for his time as a team mate of Neil Howarth at Macclesfield he was their leading score on numerous occasions.  He started his career with Lichfield then Atherstone Town followed by Stafford Rangers before moving to Macclesfield.  Following the end of his time at the Moss Rose he moved on to Hednesford Town, Nuneaton Borough and then to Halifax Town before taking up his first player/management job at Nuneaton.

After Boro he took up the post of manager at Hucknall Town and from there to Northwich Victoria.  It was while under his charge that Victoria were demoted into the Conference North after the first of their many financial irregularities that he was in no way to be blamed for but still against all the odds got them promoted back the following season.

He joined Stalybridge in May 2007 and took Celtic to the play off final at his first attempt, losing by the only goal of the game to Barrow.  He is also currently the assistant coach to the England C squad and is extremely well regarded in non-league circles.

It's obvious that our board have had to pay compensation to his club to bring him here and that money is believed to have come from the Mark Yates compensation package plus a little bit more from the directors themselves.  Steve is probably not the dynamic manager that the fans were looking forward too but there is no doubting that he is held in high esteem by others in non league football but it does show that the board knew the kind of manager that they wanted and pulled out all the stops to get their man.

John Finnigan, who has been caretaker manager for the past few weeks will become his assistant and he is also expected to be bringing his right hand man from Stalybridge, Steve Fearns, with him to act as scout.

Best of luck Steve.  You'll find it a bit tougher than other clubs that you have managed.