A CRUCIAL part of Jan Molby's squad was finalised this week after two goalkeepers signed on the dotted line at Aggborough.

John Danby, 21, has agreed to a two-year deal after impressing in nine Division Three games and seems to have secured the first-choice slot.

His back-up will be Studley's highly-rated keeper Danny Lewis who caught the eye in training and in several friendlies for Harriers during the campaign.

The 21-year-old forced his way into the high-flying Midland Alliance side's line-up after joining from Bromsgrove Sunday side Garringtons in the summer of 2002, conceding just 40 goals in 37 games last season.

Redditch-born Lewis, a former Alvechurch youth teamer, attracted plenty of scouts from clubs, including Coventry, Crewe, Norwich and West Brom.

He has now earned a two-year contract with Harriers to replace Stuart Brock who is one of nine players released by director of football Molby.

The new signing is likely to start on the subs bench and in the reserves which Molby and his assistant Gary Barnett want to reform to bring on fringe players, youth teamers and look at trialists.

And the Dane said: "Lewis has got a super attitude, he wants to play and we know he will push Danby all the way. He's got all the things in his game for a goalkeeper that we want to work with.

"If we'd have given him another season at Studley's level, then I think three or four more clubs might have come knocking so I wanted to get in early."

Of Danby, Molby added: "I'm delighted he's signed and it's only right for his further education in the game.

"He knows that unless anything goes horribly wrong he will be playing and he needs more games. If he can continue his improvement, then I think he might have the ability to step up.

"Three or four months ago, I would have probably been looking to bring in a new first-choice goalkeeper who may have cost us more than we wanted to spend so I'm quite happy."

Brock, who had been at Harriers since 1997, is set to line up a trial with a Football League club, believed to be Notts County or Rushden.