MATT Gardiner insists of the loss of Harriers' top stars has not dampened enthusiasm or ambition ahead of the new campaign.

Boss John Eustace's right-hand man lifted the lid on a tough closed season which has seen the departure of several key players from Aggborough.

Talisman Arthur Gnahoua was snapped up by League One Shrewsbury, while big-spending champions AFC Fylde swooped for defensive duo Jordan Tunnicliffe and Zaine Francis-Angol.

Loan keeper Sam Hornby has signed for Port Vale with Harriers chairman Colin Gordon recently confirming favourite Elton Ngwatala would also be moving on.

The club has been running the rule over a host of trialists during pre-season in a bid to boost the squad but while Gardiner acknowledges the difficulty of that task, he remains upbeat.

"It all depends on your point of view, whether you're a pessimist, an optimist or a realist," said Gardiner.

"The good thing with the gaffer, me and everyone else right up to the chairman is that we realise football is a transient business where there are short-term contracts. People move on.

"It is a positive thing that those lads have gone higher, some into the Football League. Hopefully we can use that as a selling point to the next batch of players because they can see what can be done with the right attitude and application.

"Of course, we didn't want to see a turnover. We would have wanted to work with that group longer but the opportunity came for them to better themselves. Along the way we have added some value and ticked the boxes.

"While they're here, they are doing a good job for us. Rather than us thinking 'oh, they've gone', it gives us an appetite to be competitive again. There has been no stone unturned and I can assure fans the workrate has been there and will continue to be until we get it right.

"Naturally, with the quality of the players we have lost you cannot simply get like for like in terms of personalities or attributes but we do know the profile of the type of player we want.

"The manager is very specific and we have had targets for a long time. It is a case of being patient because there is no point recruiting lads who cannot do what we want them to.

"The league seems to get more and more difficult every year but we won't shy away from that, we need to make sure the team is competitive and it will be come the first day of the season."

Harriers fielded 10 trialists in a 3-2 victory over Redditch United in Tuesday's Worcestershire Senior Cup semi-final.

Gardiner, who politely declined to identify the players involved, added: "We are constantly reviewing who we are going to keep or move on. We have to be fair to the players and make calls as early as we can because if it is not looking favourable, they will need to try to earn contracts elsewhere."