The Times covered Kiddy v Eastbourne as their selected non-league game today. Walter Gammie's article can be found on P19 of "the game", but here's the meat of it.
On the pitch, a young side playing vibrant football, and bubbling just under the BSP play-off places; OFF the pitch, a club facing life threatening financial turmoil. Such are the two faces of Kidderminster Harriers.
Three weeks ago, Dave Reynolds, the Chairman between 1981 and 1999 returned, and with the help of new director Mark Serrell met a £93,000 bill for income tax, NI, and VAT. "The club had 4 or 5 hours left or the padlocks were on the door" he said. "We find ourselves in a catastrophic financial position. In my day if you couldn't afford it, you didn't have it. Unfortunately, that view has been deemed old-fashioned. This club has had well over £1 million paid into it in the last 4 years through private donations, and all that money has been wasted. 2 or 3 of us have put some cash in, but it's as far as we can go." Reynolds estimates that £150K - £200K is needed or they're out of business in 4-6 weeks.
He'd issued warnings to the previous board, which went unheeded. They were trying to run as if still a League club, but the sponsorship in those days was worth £800K a season. Obviously there's now a massive shortfall. If they survive, Reynolds plans long term to re-establish the club's academy which was axed in 1999 when he left. The most famous graduate was Lee Hughes.
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