KIDDERMINSTER Harriers legend Graham Allner believes the club's over spending in recent seasons is to blame for their relegation.

Allner was manager during the club's rise to prominence to become West Midland's top non-league club during a brilliant 15 year spell.

It's a status they have surrendered after Saturday's 0-0 draw against Barrow saw them fall into the National North next season, their lowest level in 33 years.

Solihull Moors replaced them as the region's highest ranked non-league club after winning automatic promotion from the National North.

Allner, who guided Harriers to the Football Conference title in 1994 and won the FA Trophy in 1987, believes the club have paid the price for trying and failing to win promotion to the Football League.

Kidderminster have made losses of £263,502 and £277,168 in 2014 and 2015.

He also had some sympathy for the task faced by chairman Rod Brown and chief executive Colin Gordon, who took over the running of the club last summer.

"There was a lot of hard work to make Kidderminster Harriers a top non-league club," said Allner.

"Aggborough has been completely transformed over the last 30 years and one of the things I was most proud was how we increased the crowds from 400 in the 80s to between 2,000 and 3,000.

"We tried to do things the right way and only spend the money we had.

"It takes longer to do that but also means it is built on solid foundations.

"Recently there have been periods when the club have spent money they do not have or used someone else's money.

"That's okay for a while but when it's gone you are left to face the consequences.

"The people running Harriers now inherited a very difficult situation because the club's chickens have came home to roost this season."

Harriers are closing in on a new manager for next season, who will be tasked with the job of ensuring the club bounces back.

But Allner has warned winning promotion will not be an easy task next season.

He said: "I saw Hednesford beat Solihull Moors on Saturday and even though they may be going down I thought they played well.

"I have seen a number of games in the National North this season and I think the standard has improved, it's a tougher league than the National South."