9:00am Friday 3rd July 2009
HARRIERS manager Mark Yates is hoping that he will have another four or five players secured in the next week.
Currently, the Aggborough club have seven players contracted for next season but the management team are working behind the scenes to secure more ahead of next season.
Yates is also casting his eye over a host of trialists during training at Harriers over the next few weeks.
Over 20 players took part in a double session on Thursday, including several members of Harriers' youth team, but the manager is still assessing those hoping to earn a contract at Harriers.
Yates also said that it may take another two or three weeks before the squad really takes shape.
"It's good to be back on the training pitch after a couple of months away," commented the manager.
"The first few sessions have done down well.
"At the minute we've got a number of lads on trial with us and we'll see if they are what we need.
"It may take some time to build the squad because we are trying to get the right players in at the right price. It's not an ideal situation but we'll keep working hard on it.
"I think there are a lot more players on trial because teams are not willing to sign them straight away, so it will take as long as it will take.
"I could build a squad now but I want to get the right players in."
Bennett is training with the squad and is in talks about signing a new deal for the 2009-10 campaign.
If he joins then he'll be hot on the heels of Brian Smikle and David McDermott, who re-signed this week.
Yates said: "Dean's training with us and we want to sign him. We're talking to him but nothing's sorted yet.
"That's not Dean messing us about, he's got a view too how he's worth and we're going from there.
"I think we'll have 11 or 12 players by next week and we'll see what happens after that.
"We got Brian Smikle and David McDermott on board, which is a big boost for us.
"Brian scored ten goals for us last season and there's a lot more to come from David."
Yates also spoke of his determination to keep midfielder Russ Penn, who is a target for League Two side Burton Albion.
The Brewers have made two offers for the 23-year-old but have yet to meet Harriers' £50,000 valuation of him.
"I don't want Russ to go," said Yates.
"Burton made an offer last week which wasn't anywhere near what we would want.
"I know Russ wants to play in the Football League, but he's a player we don't want to lose."
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