KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' Nationwide League Division Three relegation battle against Cheltenham Town was called off for safety reasons last night after Aggborough was plunged into darkness by a power failure.

A problem at a nearby power sub-station caused the floodlights to go off shortly before the scheduled 7.45pm kick-off.

Lighting was eventually restored and a decision was made to get the match under way at 8.45pm.

A couple of minutes before the re-arranged start time there was a partial floodlights failure and East Yorkshire referee Carl Boyeson called the match off after consulting Aggborough safety staff.

The two main problems were pockets of darkness in the corners of the pitch and also two main stands were without lights.

"I took the decision in conjunction with the club's senior safety officer," said Mr Boyeson.

Around 3,000 spectators were in the ground when the decision was made. They were given vouchers to attend the match when it is re-arranged.

Harriers director of football Jan Molby said: "There was nothing we could do about it. The referee and the safety officer decided to call it off. It wasn't anything to do with the football ground as such. It was the area around us."

Meanwhile, giant defender Abdou Sall is back training with Harriers for whom he played 36 times between 2001-03.

Molby said the 23-year-old was back in the area visiting his brother and had asked if he could train with the Aggborough outfit. "We said yes and that's as far as it's gone at the moment," said the former Liverpool star.

Steve Hodge has been appointed as Harriers' new sales and marketing director with a remit to expand the corporate and fan based revenue at the club.

The 50-year-old said: "I believe we have a lot of untapped potential in places like Evesham, Pershore, Ludlow and Leominster to name but a few areas.

"I have a lot of knowledge of business in these outlying areas and it is my aim to bring them to Kidderminster Harriers by expanding the net."