KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Gary Whild has praised the spirit of his squad in the face of adversity as they continue to keep their play-off dreams alive.

The Aggborough outfit are eighth in the Vanarama Conference, just two points off the top five, following Tuesday’s 3-1 home win over Nuneaton Town.

It stretched their record to just one defeat in the last five league games.

Harriers’ run of form comes against the backdrop of financial problems which have seen striker Nathan Blissett and centre-half Chey Dunkley sold to Bristol Rovers and Oxford respectively.

Keeper Jasbir Singh, forward Michael Gash and midfielder Josh O’Keefe were also sent out on loan in a bid to reduce a monthly wage bill that is being propped up by benefactors Kath and Ernie Lane.

“We’ve got a good spirit, which you need in football,” said Whild. “What we’ve done is admirable in terms of games we have had and performances.

“What (assistant manager) Mark Creighton and myself have to do is get the best out of the lads.

“Over the majority of the season we have managed to do that but we do need one or two extra bodies.

“You can’t lose the likes of Chey and Nathan and just expect us to be the same.”

Harriers do not have a game this weekend because they are out of the FA Cup, giving them a break before next Saturday’s tricky FA Trophy first-round trip to Conference North outfit Bradford Park Avenue.

Harriers crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Avenue in last season’s competition but knocked them out of the FA Cup after a replay at Aggborough.

Midfielder Matt Robinson has returned to Luton after a month’s loan but Whild won’t be able to replace him with a player from the Conference or above because the loan window has shut.

“At the moment, the only lads we can bring in are from lower down (the football pyramid),” the manager added.

“If we want to bring anybody in from higher up, we have to wait until January.”