KIDDERMINSTER Harriers will remain full-time even if they are relegated, revealed chairman Rod Brown.

While the Aggborough outfit stress they want to escape the bottom four in the Vanarama National League, they have planned for both eventualities.

Saturday's encouraging 2-0 win over Aldershot renewed hopes of staying up and the 23rd placed Reds are six points off safety with another 75 points to play for.

But whatever division Harriers are in next season, the board of directors are keen for the club to have a long term strategy in place.

Brown emphasised they will not be relying on gate receipts alone to fund the club from the 2016-17 campaign, with revenue coming in from the youth academy, higher education programmes and futsal scheme.

Harriers are also hoping to set-up 'affinity schemes' with other businesses in order to generate funds.

"Whatever happens the club will be staying full-time," confirmed Brown.

"That's because we have plans in place to make sure we have stronger ties to the community and extra revenue streams.

"We will be generating funds through the youth academy as well as the higher education and futsal programmes.

"Those revenue streams will generate the main bulk of money the club needs and all the funds we make through the commercial side will be the icing on the cake.

"We have got to get away from relying on season ticket sales and benefactors and become more forward thinking and we've got plans in place to do that."

The club's plans were outlined at a fans forum last week, when supporters quizzed Brown, chief executive Colin Gordon and head coach Dave Hockaday.

The chairman added: "We want to stay up but the position we are in you have to plan ahead.

"It doesn't matter what division we are in next season because the budget will be smaller than this year but we'll have good young players coming through.

"We'll be developing players and sell them and there's nothing wrong with that; we want to copy the success of Crewe and Bournemouth."

Harriers are also continuing discussions with Birmingham Metropolitan College over renewing the youth academy deal.

The College announced 200 redundancies in the summer but Brown believes those difficulties will not impact on talks.

Meanwhile, Harriers go to Braintree on Saturday (3pm ko) in high spirits after defeating Aldershot.

It kicks-off a testing run of games, which will see them play all of the top five teams in the next seven weeks.

In a boost, on-loan Walsall forward Jordan Murphy has extended his stay until January, while Calvin Dinsley looks set to join Gloucester City.

Adam Dawson will return from his spell at Tranmere Rovers on December 12, as he recovers from a groin injury, with the possibility he will go on loan again in New Year.

With the deadline for emergency loans November 25, the club may well look to reshape the squad and bring in new faces.

Harriers are hoping to obtain international clearance for French forward Arthur Gnahoua, who was previously at Macclesfield, and extend Kyle Howkins' stay from West Brom.

The chairman also thanked the fans for their unwavering support.

Despite a season of struggle, attendances have remained impressive with 1,790 fans watching the win over Aldershot.

The chairman said: "The fans have been phenomenal, they have stuck with us. There's a committed hardcore and we can't thank them enough for their support."

  •  Supporters can follow all the action in Braintree with The Shuttle's live match updates.