Following a few weeks of seeming inaction, since the (former) Kidderminster Harriers chairman Barry Norgrove announced that he was stepping down as chairman, today came the news that a former chairman is stepping into the breach temporarily to hold the club together until a new buyer is found.

Dave Reynolds, for that is he, was in charge of the club during the Allner years of the 80's and 90's and stepped down in 1999 to allow Lionel Newton to take us to further glory after he appointed Jan Molby to take us, successfully, into the Football League.  Following a reported row between Newton and Reynolds the latter walked out on the club.  Part of the agreement when Newton left was that Reynolds would not be allowed back into the club but that was resolved some time later and he returned as a silent director last season.

Now, with the club reportedly facing a tax and VAT bill, Reynolds has bought Barry's majority shareholding and taken up the reins once more.  He has a bit of a mess, financially, to clear up with reports that the former accountant John Baldwin did a runner a couple of weeks ago and also legally with the disappearance of Oliver Hunt some time before that.  In no way am I implying any wrong doing by either party here.

Reynolds has said that his first job will be to attract new investment into the club and has already recruited onto the board the owner of a Halesowen plumbing company and former Stourbridge FC chairman, Mark Serrell, to help out financially.

Barry Norgrove, along with another director Neil Savery, have now left the club.



I would like to emphasise that my time as Chairman will be a short tenure.  Ideally, I will be looking to recruit, either from the current Board or outside the club, a figurehead to act as Chairman for the longer term.  This individual would be of sound business and football mind and there is an opportunity now for any person to approach myself or the club about the role.

In the short-term, I have managed ensure the club is in the right hands and can move forward from here.  I am committed, along with new Board member, Mark Serrell, to alleviating some significant outstanding debt which will need to be paid within the next few weeks.

The decisions taken last night have enabled the club to move into a period of breathing space.  However, there still remains a debt situation that is not sustainable without the help not only of the club's Board and staff, but also the general public and our loyal supporters.

We will work together to bring about a happier and healthier long-term future for Kidderminster Harriers Football Club.

There will be no further comment from the club or myself until after the weekend.

With tonight's match at Southport in mind, football must be our primary focus and it is vital that the playing squad are allowed to concentrate solely on their efforts.

Dave Reynolds
Chairman