NEW director Gordon Howard has declared his determination to reverse the doom and gloom at Kidderminster Harriers.

The Bermuda-based businessman started watching Harriers when he visited family in Kinver, near Stourbridge.

And the enthusiasm of club president and former chairman Colin Youngjohns persuaded Howard, a wealthy investment banker, to come on board.

Cash-strapped Harriers have become stuck in a rut over the past few seasons, culminating in their relegation back to the Nationwide Conference this year.

But Howard, part of a consortium that tried to take over Birmingham City in the early 1990s, intends to bring a spark back to the club and flies back into the country in the next few days.

His involvement has helped Barry Norgrove's Aggborough Holdings group meet the proposed £500,000 budget and he now looks forward to the first league game at home to Woking on August 13.

Howard said: "I'm not sure how often I will be able to come over for games and board meetings but I try to get back to see my mother and my sisters quite frequently.

"Whenever I've met Colin Youngjohns I have always been very impressed with his enthusiasm for the club.

"I'm convinced now that everything has settled down, we can get the club back to where it belongs."

Skipper Mark Jackson has also backed Harriers' promotion bid and believes boss Stuart Watkiss is securing the right mix of experience and youth.

The 27-year-old defender, who signed from Scunthorpe last season, said: "The vibe I get in the dressing room at the moment is that this set of lads really want to make their mark and achieve something for the club."