WAYNE Hatswell is due to join his new team-mates for training today after completing a move to Kidderminster Harriers.

The no-nonsense defender has switched from Chester for a four-figure amount, the first transfer fee paid out since chairman Lionel Newton quit the board.

But the signings will not end there for Harriers boss Ian Britton who is determined to turn around their fortunes to break away from the Division Three struggling pack.

Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Southend was their eighth loss in the first 13 league games and pushed the club back into the bottom two.

Britton expects to confirm a loan capture today but another temporary swoop, this time for a striker, may be put on hold, leaving the Harriers boss cursing his luck.

He explained: "The striker I am after had a knock playing for his club's first team on Tuesday night. It's just typical of our luck.

"It could have been two forwards as well but I've definitely got to wait until late next week for the other one as the club he plays for have got a couple of injuries.

"Hopefully, the three players I want to get in before Saturday will kick-start us a bit because obviously the confidence is low."

The Harriers boss particularly needs to add to the strike-force ahead of Saturday's visit to promotion-chasing Swansea.

Currently, he only has veteran John Williams, makeshift forward Dean Bennett and rookie Matt Lewis in attack.

Bo Henriksen, struggling with Achilles and groin problems, is out for the next two weeks and Andy Bishop returned to Walsall last Thursday after a two-month loan.

But Britton insisted Harriers must start shaping up in defence which is why he has captured England semi-pro cap Hatswell, 28, on a deal until the end of next season.

The 6ft tall centre-half or left-back has cost less than the reported £10,000 and was only available due to a fall-out with Mark Wright, his boss at the Conference club.

Wright bought Hatswell for £35,000 from Forest Green while at Oxford and then took him to Chester.

He was rated highly by fans but has not figured since September 13 after the bust-up.

Shrewsbury and Stevenage are both believed to have been prepared to pay around £20,000 but Chester did not want to sell him to Conference rivals.

Britton said: "I do still think we need to build from the back. On Saturday, we didn't play very well but we should have taken a point.

"Mark Wright doesn't sign bad defenders. If you look at Chester's record, they don't score a lot but they don't concede many either. But for personal issues Hatswell would never have left Chester.

"Everybody could see we still need quality in the side if we are going to compete at this level. The board have given me their backing but I am still near enough within my budget."

Britton will today check on the fitness of midfielder John Melligan who came off as a precaution with a tight hamstring in the midweek 2-0 LDV Trophy defeat at QPR.

Harriers head to big-spending strugglers Northampton on Tuesday (7.45pm).