KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Gary Whild has hailed the addition of experienced high profile football agent Colin Gordon to the board of directors.

With the dust settling on a testing 2014-15 campaign, where the club finished 16th in the Vanarama Conference, the Reds boss is feeling up beat about the 2015-16 season, despite the challenges the club faces.

Whild is set to almost completely rebuild the squad on a budget which is less than half of what he had to play with previously, as Harriers look to find some financial stability and spend within their means.

But the addition of the former Kidderminster and Birmingham player as football development director, has excited the manager.

Gordon, who is based in Stourbridge, has connections at the highest levels of the game, and through business Key Sports Management represents former England boss Steve McClaren, Arsenal ace Theo Walcott and Manchester United star Phil Jones, among others.

He will work closely with Whild in a bid to attract young players from a higher level to the Aggborough outfit.

“To have someone like Colin Gordon join the board, who knows both Rod and myself, is a really positive step forward,” said the manager.

“He’s a got connections at the very top and will raise the profile of the club.

Harriers begun their summer clear out when keeper Danny Lewis, who made 176 appearances, and Callum Gittings, who played for the Reds 172 times, left to pursue their careers in part-time football.

Left-back Kevin Nicholson also departed after agreeing to cancel his deal by mutual consent.

The club have Jared Hodgkiss, Aman Verma and Jack Byrne Keyon Reffell secured, while Craig Reid and Reece Styche have one more year left on their deals.

Whild also confirmed academy stars Luke Maxwell and Kennedy Digie are signed up for next season.

“Kevin did have a deal to keep him at the club next season but it speaks volumes about him that he understood and agreed with what we asked,” added the manager.

“Callum and Daniel were within a whisker of winning promotion to the Football League two years ago and have been great servants to the club. I am sure they will both be in demand.

“It will be a little like when I joined Steve Burr at the club, when we had to rebuild the squad.

“The fans like continuity when it comes to players and we’ve had a bit of that but I feel positive about next year.

“I am sure there will be lots of players who want to join Harriers.”

He continued: “We’ve made a good solid start with the eight players we already have on board. With the club’s money situation, players can sign but they won’t be getting paid until pre-season starts in July.

“We’d love to keep the likes of Jamie Grimes and Jordan Tunnicliffe, and have started talking to them so see we'll what happens."