MARTIN O'Connor has defended up-and-coming goalkeeper Daniel Lewis -- but is no clearer about his own future at Kidderminster Harriers.

Ex-Studley player Lewis was at fault for Accrington's first goal from a free-kick as Harriers fell 2-0 at the Conference leaders on Saturday.

But his mixed display also included several stunning stops that highlighted why he has replaced John Danby in recent months as the club's number one goalkeeper.

Caretaker-manager O'Connor pointed out as much but is refusing to speculate on his own future at Aggborough and whether he intends to go for the job on a permanent basis. He said of 23-year-old Lewis: "Dan made a mistake -- we could all see that. He made some great saves at other points in the game.

"In a way, you kick yourself and wonder what the score would have been had that one not gone in but he's only human. He kept us in the game at 1-0 with some of his stops."

O'Connor added: "Permanently, I don't know who'll be coming in. As of yet, it's not something I've given a lot of thought to doing myself and I don't know who else the board may have in mind yet."

Names linked with the post so far have included ex-Shrewsbury Town boss Jimmy Quinn, former Bristol Rovers manager Ian Atkins, Walsall old boy Ray Graydon and Carlton Palmer, who had a spell in charge of Mansfield this season.

Meanwhile, winger Marc Pugh, who scored once in his Harriers loan spell, has returned to Burnley after a month.