IAN Britton has issued a warning to any clubs who may be interested in snapping up Kidderminster Harriers' talented players.

The Harriers boss acted after speculation surrounding several key members of the cash-strapped Third Division club's squad.

Britton, who has been checking on potential replacements for Richie Appleby this week, declared: "No-one is going away from this football club on the cheap."

He has condemned stories of a £125,000 bid from Stockport County for hot property Craig Hinton as "old news".

Britton stressed there had been no offers for other players, including big centre-back Abdou Sall who has reportedly been watched by Derby and Rushden.

And he is under no pressure to sell despite the well-documented losses over previous seasons at Aggborough.

The manager leaves the country for a two-week holiday on Saturday but will aim to make two new signings when he returns.

Britton said: "I'm not going to jump into making any signings. There will be a lot of players looking for a club when I come back off holiday.

"We will probably have three or four trialists training with us in pre-season.

"We want somebody who is hungry to play for the club and to do well for us."

As for outgoings, the bid for Hinton was made early this year but was turned down by then-manager Jan Molby who wanted to keep the offer quiet for fear of unsettling the player.

Centre-back Hinton, 24, has been watched by and linked with a host of clubs but Stockport's is the only known offer.

Stockport manager Carlton Palmer said: "We made an offer about three months ago but we weren't prepared to pay the money they were asking for him so are no longer interested."

And Britton confirmed: "The whole thing is dead and buried. They never came back to us."

He revealed Appleby's decision to snub a contract at Harriers last week had come as no surprise.

The former reserve and youth team chief said: "I had a feeling all the time that Richie wouldn't sign.

"I'm disappointed that he's going but one man doesn't make a team."

Meanwhile, Harriers have sold 28 per cent more season tickets than in the same period last season.

The discount period on tickets, hospitality and sponsorship runs until Saturday when the Aggborough office closes at noon.

Harriers' home game with Hull is already proving popular.