SHUTTLE sports editor Peter McKinney looks at the reasons why Kidderminster Harriers suffered relegation from the Vanarama National League.

AS HARRIERS tumble to their lowest level in 33 years, the fans have every right ask ‘how did it come to this’?

Relegation is a culmination of four seasons of reckless overspending and mismanagement.

The seeds of Kiddy's downfall were sown during the good times, when they paid the price for missing out on promotion to the Football League.

Harriers generated a huge amount of cash, selling players for six-figure fees, averaging crowds of over 2,000; enjoying two capacity crowds at Aggborough as well as a run to the FA Cup Fourth round at Premier League giants Sunderland.

They had two passionate fans in Kath and Ernie Lane happy to bank roll the club’s push for glory.

But in their pursuit for the promised land the club lost perspective; spending fees on players, carrying a wage bill which peaked at an unsustainable £800,000.

Then there was the pay-offs for former managers Steve Burr and his deeply unpopular successor Andy Thorn, followed by a procession of big earning players leaving by mutual consent during desperate cost-cutting.

Chairman Mark Serrell and his wife Ruth, who oversaw the club’s spending policy, departed in March 2014 blaming threats and social media abuse for the unpopular decision to replace Burr with Thorn. They escaped the painful dose of financial reality that Kiddy had to swallow.

After making a £40,654 loss in 2013, the club's finances spiralled out of control with Harriers recording losses of £263,502 and £277,168 over the next two years.

By the time Rod Brown was named chairman, replacing Ken Rae, the club had endured a traumatising 2014-15 campaign where they relied on the generosity of the Lanes, who had quit the board in 2014, to pay wages.

Harriers were in dire straits, commercially a mess and crippled financially.

Brown and Colin Gordon, who joined as a director but became majority shareholder in November, had to fix the financial mess left by previous administrations as the club narrowly avoided liquidation.

With one of the smallest playing budgets in the league, safety was the target but such was the precarious situation any further instability could knock them over the precipice.

Harriers’ hopes that Gary Whild could deliver stability were dashed after a winless start and after the club missed out on its first choice replacement they turned to ex-Leeds boss Dave Hockaday.

Joining at a critical time, his appointment proved to be a mistake. Seven points from 12 matches left with them with a paltry 14 points after 26 matches.

There was also a revolving door of players, 45 have been used this season, as the club paid off higher earning underperforming players and relied on a mix of youngsters and loan players to find a winning formula.

An almost completely new team under Gordon’s caretaker stewardship earned a respectable 22 points from 18 games - form over the course of a season that would have steered them to safety.

As Harriers prepare for life in the National North they face their most important decision in over 30 years as they finalise plans for a new manager.

The board and staff deserve credit for the massive strides to get Harriers back on track behind the scenes commercially and financially.

They have plans off the pitch to ensure the club's future but the supporters’ priority is an immediate return to the Vanarama National League.