KIDDERMINSTER Harriers chairman Ken Rae says the club’s decision to sell players had nothing to do with the ongoing cashflow worries at Aggborough.

Rae has stressed that Nathan Blissett and Chey Dunkley’s respective moves to Bristol Rovers and Oxford United were only agreed by the club after their valuations were met.

Both players joined their new teams on loan until the January transfer window opens, when five-figure transfers will be completed.

Harriers are experiencing money worries, with benefactors Kath and Ernie Lane paying the shortfall in the wages each month.

Michael Gash (Nuneaton), Josh O’Keefe (Chester) and Jasbir Singh (Gloucester City) have also been sent on loan.

“We are a club which gives young players a good grounding so they can move on,” said the chairman.

“What’s happened with Nathan Blissett and Chey Dunkley is the same as Joe Lolley and Jamille Matt.

“Oxford and Bristol Rovers made offers which met the club’s valuations of those players.

“It’s a case of not wanting to stand in a player’s way, you also have to let them go and develop.”

The chairman also said there has been no interest in winger Marvin Johnson, who has scored four goals and provided three assists in his most consistent season yet for Harriers.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for the 24-year-old, who looked on his way out after a loan spell at Hednesford in April but is now a key first-team player.

“Marvin is a lot stronger, he’s a confident lad playing well who looks as though he will score and create goals,” praised manager Gary Whild.

“I am delighted with him, he’s grown up in the dressing room and he’s showing his potential consistently.

“Everyone tells me Scott Neilson is the best winger in the league, but I’ve seen Marvin play Grimsby twice and he’s had a huge influence in both of those games. He’s up there with the best.”

Whild is hoping to bolster his squad before Saturday’s trip to Altrincham(3pm kick-off) and next Tuesday’s home game against Nuneaton (7.45pm ko).

Reece Styche’s loan at Tamworth has ended, after scoring two goals in five games, and he will be available for Harriers to bolster a forward line which has lost Blissett and Gash.

Former Wrexham keeper Joslain Mayebi has joined on a non-contract deal, while young Oxford defender Sam Long has come to Harriers on a youth loan.

Whild is also hopeful of extending Matt Robinson’s loan from Luton.

He said: “Hopefully we’ll have Reece Styche back from his loan at Tamworth and he’s done well there.

“We’re are hoping to tie Matt up, verbally things have been agreed, obviously we need to get the paperwork sorted and you don’t want to count your chickens before they hatch.

“It’s obvious what we need to do is what we’ve done before, which is look at lads from lower down where the wage demands are not excessive and give them a chance. Hopefully I will get it right with one or two.”

l Harriers’ trip to Aldershot has been moved from December 6 to January 20, because of The Shots’ involvement in the FA Cup.

l Fans unable to attend the two games can follow the action with The Shuttle’s live match updates.