ROD Brown believes the hard work over the close season means Kidderminster Harriers are in a stronger position but has warned there is still a lot more to be done.

Since taking over as chairman at the end of April, Brown has worked tirelessly to pick up the Aggborough outfit, which looked in a state of decline after the previous disastrous season.

But he has set out to re-engage with disillusioned fans alienated by the club’s money worries and also put in place a commercial structure in a bid to make Harriers financially self-sufficient.

The club and fans were rocked by a huge unsustainable wage bill, which it struggled to pay despite the financial backing of benefactors Kath and Ernie Lane.

As Kidderminster head into the 2015-16 season in the newly-branded Vanarama National League, there are signs fans have welcomed the efforts to put in place a new infrastructure, with over 600 season tickets sold respectably comparable to recent years.

The club have committed to only spending the money it can generate, which has seen manager Gary Whild given a reduced playing budget, thought to be £250,000, in order to re-build his squad.

Harriers, who kick-off the season with a tough home game against promotion favourites Grimsby on Saturday, have bolstered an inexperienced squad with seasoned Conference performers such as midfielder Joe Clarke, defenders Lathaniel Rowe-Turner and Kelvin Langmead.

“We are in a stronger position than we were last season but the challenges are still there,” said an upbeat Brown, who successfully managed Stourport Swifts, Bromsgrove Rovers and Redditch United as well as working with Whild.

“This club was strangled by cash flow last year. Ernie and Kath Lane helped alleviate that situation but even with that we were trading above what the club could afford.

“But we’ll be spending within our means this year and the budget will be rigidly stuck to.

“Gary and I are good friends, he is the reason I joined, and we will support him as much as we can.

“I am a football man and I will support as best I can and if we’re talking about £5,000 or £10,000 we can do at but if it is £60,000 or £70,000 it’s a non-starter.

“I will support him to the hilt but if we aren’t disciplined you’re not doing right by the club.”

The close season has seen the board and employees at the club work incredibly hard to blow away the apathy which engulfed Aggborough.

A new commercial team of John Roberts, Dave Pountney and Helen MacDonald has been put in place, while Matt Paddock and Adrian Ganderton have returned to take up press officer and groundsman roles respectively.

The club have spent £40,000 in a bid to resolve the drainage problems with plagued the pitch last season, while the Aggborough Suite has also been given a facelift and the Harriers Arms has been rebranded as The Final Whistle.

The return of the traditional red and white halves kit has also gone down well with fans.

The arrival of well-respected football agent Colin Gordon on the board as Football Development Director, who will be focusing on the club’s youth academy, has also added extra football nous to the club.

Brown said: “To re-energise the club you need a plan and to do that you also need the right people.

“Once you get your structure in place you can start working on improving the club and the match day experience for fans.”

While the limited budget means that Harriers’ focus will be on maintaining their Vanarama National League status.

“I genuinely believe Gary is the right man for the job under the circumstances,” added the chairman.

“I think the fans know we’re not pushing for the top but if they see us trying and working hard and there’s a good atmosphere around the place they will back us.”