JOHN Davies has said he is fully committed to Kidderminster Harriers, despite stepping down from the board of directors this week.

Davies, who owns the club’s main shirt sponsors, Hire It, decided to follow the footsteps of Mark Serrell after he exited the chairman’s role on Saturday.

The well-respected Wyre Forest businessman felt he had to leave the board so he could talk freely about issues at the club.

Serrell and his wife, Ruth, cut ties with the club after receiving abuse on social media websites from a small section of Kidderminster Harriers fans unhappy with former boss Steve Burr’s departure and their recent poor form.

Davies said: “I was devastated by Mark’s decision to resign and the reasons why.

“I have seen some of the things written on Facebook and it was too much. The negative chanting does not help the players or manager and if fans are unhappy they could have spoken to me. We were in the process of sorting a fans' forum."

"I was one of the people who got Mark involved in the club and I am sorry to see him go.

“I am still a Harriers fan and love the club, I am not walking away. I urge the fans to get behind the club.”

Hire It’s current sponsorship deal with Harriers finishes at the end of the season, and Davies has spent in the region of six figures backing the club.

He also believes there was a breakdown in relations between the board of directors and Burr after he spoke to Forest Green Rovers regarding the manager’s vacancy in November.

Harriers had given Burr permission to talk to the Gloucestershire club after receiving a formal request from their Conference rivals.

Serrell denied accusations the club were hoping to recoup £100,000 in compensation for Burr.
To the delight of the fans, the Harriers boss re-affirmed his commitment to the Carpetmen several days later.

Davies said: “We had a meeting with Steve and he said Kidderminster was the sort of club he wanted to stay at for life.

"Mark then received a call from Steve’s representative saying he would be interested in talking to Forest Green.

“Even when he returned and made a statement I didn’t think it was strong enough and there should have been an apology to fans and board. That’s when the cracks started to show.”

But Burr’s former assistant boss, Gary Whild, has stressed there were no issues on the football side.

He said: “There were no problems between Steve and I. In fact, I was the one who told the board to get him back.”

 

 

 

 

 

“I am still a Harriers fan and love the club, I am not walking away. I urge the fans to get behind the manager and team.”

Hire It’s current sponsorship deal with Harriers finishes at the end of the season and Davies has spent in the region of six figures backing the club.

He has also claimed there was a breakdown in relations between him and the board of directors after Burr spoke to Forest Green Rovers regarding their manager’s vacancy in November.

Harriers had given Burr permission to talk to the Gloucestershire club after receiving a formal request.

At the time, Serrell denied claims the club were hoping to recoup £100,000 in compensation for Burr, who had been contracted until 2016.

To the delight of the fans, the Harriers boss re-affirmed his commitment to the Carpetmen days later.

Davies said: “We had a meeting with Steve and he was upset by the request and said Kidderminster was the sort of club he wanted to stay at for life.

“Mark then received a call from Steve’s representative saying he would be interested in talking to theem.

“Even when he returned and made a statement I didn’t think it was strong enough and there should have been an apology to fans and board. That’s when the cracks started to show.”

Assistant boss Gary Whild said there was certainly no issues between him and the manager.

He said: “There was certainly no problems between Steve and I. In fact I was the one who told the board to get him back.”