Gowling commits to Harriers (From Worcester News)

Gowling commits to Harriers

8:20am Tuesday 8th January 2013 in Sport By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have fought off competition from higher-ranked clubs to secure the signature of Josh Gowling until the summer of 2015.

The central defender, who joined the Aggborough club in August, has been an integral part of the team’s rise into the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off places.

His original deal expired this month but manager Steve Burr has persuaded him to pen a new one despite the 29-year-old attracting interest from clubs in League One.

The news is an added boost following striker Jamille Matt’s decision to sign an 18-month contract extension last week.

“Josh has been really happy here with his football,” Burr said. “We’ve managed to tie him down when there were one or two clubs interested in taking him away from here.

“There were clubs in League One and Two trying to get him and one even went as far as telling him not to play (for us) so that he didn’t get injured which I thought was way out of order.

“That’s just one of those things that you get but Josh is happy and he can concentrate on carrying on doing what he’s done for the last few months in making us look so strong at the back.”

The Harriers boss added: “It’s just nice to know that we’re settled and the main thing is that the fans know that the players are here for the foreseeable future.

“There are things out of our control and if somebody does come in for Jamille and it is right for player and club then we would have to look at that.

“But at this moment in time we want to keep everyone together between now and the end of the season.”