Saturday, April 22, 2006

ANGRY Mark Yates is set to reveal his Kidderminster Harriers 'ret-ained list' sooner rather than later after admitting this season cannot end soon enough.

The Aggborough chief admits he can't wait to begin dismantling his squad this summer after seeing Harriers barely raise a whimper at the Victoria Road Sports Ground.

Harriers were down and out after gifting Dagenham three goals in a fatal 11-minute spell at the end of the first-half.

Dagenham stopper Tony Roberts was barely threatened all game, except for keeping out a weak Jon Newby penalty that summed up the away side's misery.

Yates pulled no punches in the assessment of Harriers' latest defeat and even apologised to fans who made the long trip to Essex.

He admits that, in less than a fortnight, he could be in a position to announce his retained list of players joining Gavin Hurren, Jake Sedgemore and Russ Penn in next season's squad.

"You'll find out in 10 or 12 days time," said Yates. "I'm not going to mention a number or anything like that now.

"But the bottom line is that I've got three players signed on contract for next season -- a blank sheet of paper to work with.

"I'm going to be able to put my team out there -- a team that will scrap for points and not give away stupid goals and will have a lot more than what was shown out there (at Dagenham).

"This wasn't a deciding factor but along with the last four months I've been here, I've seen things that have disappointed me.

"My players can be very, very disappointed with their performance. I'm disappointed for the fans and I apologise to them.

"But that's not what I want to be about. I don't want to have to apologise for my team's performance.

"To be honest, Dagenham weren't that great but they still put the ball in the back of the net three times. We had a few chances and the penalty miss just sums us up at the moment.

"Good luck to Dagenham. They took their chances when they came along and for 10 or 15 minutes in the first-half, we were so sloppy I was just praying for half-time.

Sam Saunders was first on target for Dagenham, his 34th minute shot creeping inside the far post. The damage intensified with two Craig Mackail-Smith goals in two minutes before the break.

Harriers were presented with a consolation penalty chance in the 66th minute when Saunders fouled Michael Blackwood inside the area.

But Newby's tame spot-kick effort failed to beat Roberts.

Harriers: Lewis, Rea (Thompson 46), Burgess, Hurren, Mullins, Fleming, Sedgemore (Newby 46), Penn, Blackwood, Reynolds (Russell 77), Sheldon. Subs (not used): Danby, Walker.

Attendance: 1,038.