IAN Britton has warned he will take no risks in the transfer market to avoid a repeat of previous seasons at Kidderminster Harriers.

The club have counted the cost of settling players' contracts over the last two years with big names leaving including Mark Shail, Paul Webb, Barry Horne and Ian Bogie.

So Harriers manager Britton, preparing for his first season in charge at Aggborough, is adamant he will not create a similar situation.

He has been scouring the list of out-of-contract players since the weekend after returning from a two-week holiday.

A midfielder is his priority to replace Richie Appleby who has joined Jan Molby at Hull City.

Britton admitted: "No disrespect but over the last 18 months we have paid off enough players from this club.

"We cannot go down that road again financially. It's cost the club a lot of money which we obviously cannot afford.

"I have to make sure I get it right but it does make it a little easier that we can only bring in a maximum of one or two players anyway.

"Especially with Mark Blake not being fit for the start of the season, my priority has to be a midfield player.

"But I will not rush into anything and it might well be that no-one is signed before pre-season starts."

Football League rules state clubs can now take a maximum of 10 players on loan during the season and Britton is sure to take advantage of that, perhaps even before the new campaign starts.

He said: "There are players I'm interested in but they will probably be talking to other clubs as well.

"I don't want to jump in because there will be other players coming up too.

"It's not a case of losing them, I just want to make sure the signings I make are right. It might even be a loan player I sign."

Britton has also welcomed the news two teams will be promoted from the Conference next season.

He declared: "There are maybe three or four teams in the Conference that are good enough to come into the Football League and a lot of grounds now are up to standard.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Conference clubs start paying more than the league clubs. It will be more exciting for everybody."