AS a supporter of long standing it saddens me to find the position Kidderminster Harriers are in. I suspect many other fans are not entirely surprised how badly we have performed this season.

Not Jan Molby, but the board of directors, have to take responsibility for allowing the likes of Dean Bennett and Craig Hinton to run out of contract at the end of last season, making them targets for other clubs.

Take the case of Hinton, a player who played several seasons for the club and won player-of-the-season awards, but was offered reduced terms for this season. It was a scandalous decision. Then we throw big money to sign two players who have yet to play a full game. It was stated when Adam Murray was transferred to Mansfield that it would release money for other players. What happens? We sign a midfield replacement 10 years older, probably costing more, and he is out injured until Christmas.

To release the likes of Stamps, Yates, Parrish and Ward etc - all proven at this level, beggers belief. We have not signed one player that is better than those released.

The present team is the poorest I have seen for many years and would struggle in the Conference. After working so hard to establish ourselves in the league, this situation will take some pulling out of.

Whoever the new manager is, he will have a monumental task. We have a defence leaking goals at will, a midfield creating nothing, and an attack that fails to deliver.

The board need to sign up an experienced manager with some sort of track record and to find extra finance for signings, because I believe we have run out of the loan option.

The only ray of hope is that Cambridge and Shrewsbury are in the same boat as ourselves.

L MILSON

Franche Road,

Kidderminster

n IT seems now that Jan Molby has left Kidderminster Harriers he is being blamed for signing three top- earning players who have only played minutes between them this season.

I cannot believe a man with his football knowledge would take on three suspect footballers without the OK from the club physio and club doctor.

The chairman should come clean about this - let us have the truth.

Incidentally, I am a paying supporter, watching the ups and downs for 56 years

DON DAVIES

Claughton Street

Kidderminster