THE race to fill the vacant Kidderminster Harriers hot-seat is gathering pace as the club consider their most important managerial appointment in modern history.

With Harriers' Football League future hanging by the slimmest of threads, chairman Colin Youngjohns and the board face a tough task picking the right candidate.

Jan Molby's shock resignation a week ago has set in motion an intense search for a dugout saviour to prolong the club's four-season stay in the League.

Despite the club's precarious position, there will be no shortage of interested parties and 30 applications have already been received.

Aggborough has been awash with speculation about the new boss with a couple of names from the club's past among those being linked with the vacancy. Former fans' favourite and club captain Mark Yates appears to have many of the credentials the board are looking for with his passion for the club and the supporters.

His age would also count in his favour because at only 34, he is an up-and-coming-coach with a point to prove - characteristics the board are believed to be keen on. .

Yates, who is currently first team coach at Championship club Burnley, said he is flattered to be linked with the Harriers job.

"It's a club that is close to my heart and obviously I want to see them get out of the mess that they're in," said the Hartlebury-based midfielder.

"I haven't applied for the job and I haven't been approached. I'm very happy doing the job that I am doing at Burnley at the moment, but obviously I do want to progress into management and some stage in my career."

Yates's old boss at Aggborough Graham Allner has also been linked with an emotional return, and he too refused to rule himself out of the frame. His football CV since he left Harriers in 1999 now boasts League management experience from his short time at the helm at Cheltenham.

Allner is currently taking in football matches across the country as part of his work for a scouting firm. He said: "I don't want to say too much but I've always been prepared to help Kidderminster Harriers and I'm better prepared than I've ever been to go back into management."

Colin Addison is another name to emerge and although playing his cards close to his chest, hinted that he would be interested in the job.

Addison steered Hereford United into the Football League in 1972 on the back of a sensational FA Cup giant-killing act over First Division Newcastle.

"I've spoken to one or two people about the Kidderminster Harriers position but I haven't had any direct contact," said Addison.

"I've got experience with helping out teams in trouble and working without a budget. "

Former Shrewsbury and Telford boss Jake King has applied for thejob, while Shrewsbury player-coach Martin O'Connor has also been mentioned.