KIDDERMINSTER Harriers are keen to put a disruptive week behind them as they gear up for their FA Cup clash against Sutton United.

Preparations for Saturday’s first round encounter at Aggborough (3pm ko) have not been ideal.

Fans breathed a sigh of relief when manager Steve Burr rebuffed the advances of Harriers’ Skrill Premier rivals Forest Green Rovers.

He had spoken to the Gloucestershire club about their vacant hot-seat at the start of the week.

The highly-rated manager’s decision ended a difficult few days for Harriers in positive fashion.

Burr requested permission to talk to the Gloucestershire outfit on Friday, after they had lodged a formal approach He was told not to attend Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Barnet, which ended an eight-match unbeaten run, with assistant Gary Whild taking the reins.

With Burr contracted to Kidderminster until 2016, it is thought they wanted £100,000 in compensation from their wealthy league rivals.

Harriers chairman Mark Serrell was also forced to robustly rebuff claims that the board were seeking a cash injection to ward off any financial problems.

Now he wants the club to come together to make sure they progress into the FA Cup second round for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

Standing in their way are an experienced Sutton side who are currently third in the Skrill South and unbeaten in 13 matches.

“I am delighted Steve wants to stay,” said the chairman. “Steve is the best manager in the league and there is no doubt we’re stronger with him in the dug out.

“He spoke to Forest Green Rovers and then rang me and told me he didn’t want to leave.

“He’s been into talk with the players and all we want to do is put us this episode behind us.

“I don’t think there will be any lasting damage, we’re all happy to have him back at the club.”

Burr admitted he could not bring himself to leave a club he has transformed into title contenders over the last three seasons.

Harriers are currently well-poised in second place in the Conference Premier.

“It has been a difficult week for everyone involved,” he said.

“With the group of players I’ve got and where we are in the division it was something I didn’t want to let go.

“You’re always wiser in hindsight, I just feel that there’s a job to do here.

“I’ve built a good relationship with the supporters, people here and chairman.

“I’ve had some fantastic messages from supporters and I know the decision I made was always going to be Kidderminster Harriers."

He added: “I am not going to lie to anybody, your head can get turned.

“But things didn’t seem right from the moment that I was told another club wanted to speak to me.”

Mickey Demetriou will miss the cup clash after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season at Barnet.

l Meanwhile, Joe Lolley and Demetriou have been selected for England C’s 18-man squad which will tackle Czech Republic under-21s on Tuesday, November 19.

Harriers go to Macclesfield Town in the league on Tuesday night (7.45pm ko).