GARY Whild insists defender Josh Gowling will play an important role on the pitch after he was handed a position on the manager’s backroom staff.

The 30-year-old will be player/coach for Kidderminster Harriers during the 2014-15 campaign in the Conference Premier.

Gowling’s appointment completes Whild’s restructuring of his management team.

Former defender Mark Creighton, who ended last season working with the manager, has landed a permanent role as assistant boss.

He replaces former England and Blackburn Rovers keeper Tim Flowers, who is set to take up a position at a Championship club, believed to be Nottingham Forest.

Whild said: “Josh is still going to play a big part on the pitch for us because he’s a very good player.

“He’s a popular lad who has the respect of everyone at the club.

“This is an opportunity for him to get some coaching experience at a good club like Kidderminster.

“Like Mark, he’s a guy who is hungry to learn and ambitious.

“We’re sad to see Tim leave but he said he thoroughly enjoyed it here and would be happy to help us out.”

Meanwhile, it’s been a busy week on the player recruitment front.

Forest Green Rovers hitman Reece Styche put pen to paper on a two-year deal last week, 24 hours after striker Craig Reid had signed.

Defender Jamie Grimes has also committed to a one-year deal to keep him at Aggborough.

But highly-rated right-back Lee Vaughan turned down a new deal and opted to join SkyBet League Two side Cheltenham Town on a two-year contract.

The 27-year-old admitted his decision to leave Harriers, who he played for 178 times, was the most difficult of his career.

“Overall I am very pleased with the way the summer has gone so far,” commented the Harriers boss.

“We’ve already got 15 players in and, if the season started tomorrow, we would put able to put out a strong team.”

He added: “I think Lee said himself that we did everything to keep him at the club, but you can’t blame someone for wanting to play in the Football League.”

Meanwhile, left-back Mickey Demetriou has been linked in the national media with a move to Peterborough United or Leyton Orient in the Football League.

Harriers have offered the popular defender a new deal. Demetriou’s agency is Full Contact, who also represent former Harriers manager Andy Thorn as well as Freddie Ladapo and Santiago Aloi.

l They tackleBirmingham in a friendly at Aggborough on July 26 and Cheltenham on August 2.