SIMON Russell is expected to be the next player to commit his future to Harriers for next season after the diminutive winger gave Mark Yates a verbal agreement he will sign on.

Russell is at his family home in Hull at the moment, but he has told Yates he will finalise a deal for next season when he returns to Kidderminster at the start of next week.

Assuming he agrees terms, Russell will join Jake Sedgemore, Russ Penn, Gavin Hurren, Luke Reynolds, Jonny Harkness and Michael McGrath in the squad for next term.

Michael Blackwood is still to make up his mind on the offer of a one-year deal and Johnny Mullins is attracting interest from a string of clubs other than Harriers, including Chester and Bury, following his release from Reading.

While Yates is playing a waiting game with Mullins and Blackwood, he is making good progress with a host of experienced targets.

He said: "I started with a long list of players I might be interested in, but it included four or five main targets, of which Luke Reynolds was one.

"I'm quite far down the line with a couple of them and I'm hoping to get them signed up sooner rather than later but I'm not revealing any names yet.

"We're at the stage where clubs are doing all the chasing and unless you offer players the earth they reckon they are holding out for better offers.

"But give it a few weeks and the situation will change with the players doing the chasing."

The signing of Reynolds has been a major boost for Yates who thinks, with full-time training, the former AFC Telford frontman will take the Conference by storm. Harriers had to fight off a late bid by Chester to steal the striker from under their noses.

He added: "I think this season will be the making of Luke Reynolds because he will benefit from the training and get into better shape."