MANAGER John Eustace says he’s excited about the challenge of reshaping his squad for the forthcoming National League North campaign.

The 2016-17 season, Eustace’s first in management, saw Harriers built solidly in the summer to recover from relegation and make the play-offs before exiting at the semi-final stage.

Though there have been some departures from Aggborough with Arthur Gnahoua and Jordan Tunnicliffe moving on, much of that squad remains, with the likes of James McQuilkin, Ryan Croasdale and Joe Ironside all on contract.

Eustace and his management team are busy doing what they can to improve on the 2016-17 side.

He said: "We want to improve the squad from last year and that’s going to be very difficult because we had a very good group of lads.

“Obviously losing one or two obviously means that we’ll have to replace them with good players.

“So we are trying to talk to as many as we can but there are a lot who are away on holiday so it has been quite difficult, but it is exciting as well.

“It was an exciting challenge last season to build a new team and we have kept a number of them, and if we can add one or two more faces then it will be exciting.

“Whatever happens, it gives opportunities for others to come in and do as well, if not better.”