STRIKER Michael Gash is on the brink of leaving Kidderminster Harriers in order to reduce the wage bill.

The 28-year-old, who has scored three goals this season, was not involved in last night's 2-0 defeat to Aldershot or win against Torquay United earlier this month, both at Aggborough.

Manager Gary Whild has admitted Harriers are trying to cut the wage bill, which is around £68,000 a month, and Gash is one of the higher earners.

Keeper Jasbir Singh, striker Reece Styche and midfielder Josh O’Keefe have already joined Gloucester, Tamworth and Chester on loan respectively.

Conference rivals Nuneaton have shown an interest in Gash and their manager, Liam Daish, was at Aggborough for the Aldershot match.

Whild, whose side visit high-flying Bristol Rovers on Saturday (3pm), said: “The thing for me is that the lads who are here are getting paid. We can’t afford Michael Gash so we need to get him fixed up with a new club.

“That’s where we as a club and we’ve got to work with the players we’ve got. We were keen to have a fans forum so we can tell the fans where we are.

“There is nobody more frustrated than myself and Mark Creighton, who gave his all for the club as a player.”

Harriers will continue to be without midfielder Kyle Storer, following hernia surgery, while full-back Jared Hodgkiss serves a one-match ban after being sent off against Aldershot.

Hodgkiss, who later apologies to fans live on BBC radio, was given his marching orders at the start of the second-half for pulling back Andre McConville.

Brett Williams scored the resulting penalty before Mark Molesley added a second 17 minutes from time.

Whild said: “It was a sloppy start to the second-half and to be fair to Jared, he was the first to come in the office and apologise for letting the fans down.

“You could not meet a more honest gut but the sending off was the game changer.”