KIDDERMINSTER Harriers’ chairman Colin Gordon wants to see the club improve on and off the pitch.

It’s only been three months since Kiddy suffered relegation from the Vanarama National League, tumbling to their lowest level in 33 years.

But Harriers have not rested on their laurels as they prepare for a vital season in the National North.

With manager John Eustace installed in May and head of coaching Matt Gardiner tempted away from Worcester City, the Reds haven’t wasted any time.

They ended the last season strongly with goodwill generated by an unbeaten six-game finish.

With exciting young players such as Elton Ngwatala and Arthur Gnahoua retained as well as experienced campaigners like Keith Lowe and Jared Hodgkiss, there is definitely cause for positivity.

Gordon, like the fans, wants the club to immediately bounce back but remains cautious.

He said: “I would love the club to bounce back straight away but my feelings are quite simple; I want to see progress in all aspects of the club.

“I want to see a high level of professionalism but also development and progression. Progression on the pitch is winning a lot of matches, exciting the supporters and getting them to buy into what we’re trying to do.

“Off the pitch we’ll start expanding the business of Kidderminster Harriers to support a team that is hopefully going to be in the National League.

“I haven’t really be involved in the football side at all this summer. I have been really focussing on the business of the club. I want to see progress on and off the pitch.”

Gordon took the reins in the second half of last season after Dave Hockaday’s departure but admits former Stoke, Derby and Coventry midfielder Eustace has already surpassed his own high standards.

Eustace has just started his managerial career after retiring from his playing, aided by Gardiner, who lends his extensive knowledge of the league.

“I enjoyed being in charge of the team but I would have to say that John knocks spots off me!” said the chairman.

“That is so pleasing, I knew him well and his character, and you don’t captain a Premier League club at the age of 19 unless you have something about you.

“I have been pleasantly surprised that all my thoughts and feelings about John are coming to fruition.

“You need six weeks away from playing to work with the players and John’s got that. The level of intensity is very surprising, alarming and encouraging.

“To watch them work and hear John’s demands is an eye-opener and very pleasing.”

The club have endured several seasons of financial difficulty but Gordon has vowed to maintain discipline after they broke even last season.

The budget is set to be 35 per cent of the club’s turnover and thought to be in the region of £300,000 for the campaign.

Harriers are also remaining full-time, one of half a dozen teams in the National North, in the hope it will attract talented young players from Football League clubs and give them an edge in terms of fitness and discipline.

Gordon added: “There is a reason why we’re staying full-time, we’ve got to be fitter and better organised.

“Players we thought may go out of club have come back strongly and if we give them a platform to develop and they take it on board they are your next Luke Maxwell or Dan Sweeney.

“If we take that full-time chance away from them and they go and do the wrong things like going out and drinking all of a sudden they are not the athletes and that’s a waste.”

Season ticket sales have also been unexpectedly brisk and reached 525.

But Gordon is more concerned with what the club can do for the supporters.

He finished: “The fans have been fantastic and I am not going to ask them to do anymore because they are very supportive.

“I think it’s time for us to do something for them. We’ve got to give them something for a change.”