GARY Whild has called on Kidderminster Harriers to bounce back when they entertain Forest Green Rovers on New Year’s Day.

The Aggborough outfit are eager get back on track after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Southport at home.

Harriers will be wary of their rivals from Gloucestershire in Thursday’s 3pm kick-off, who they defeated 3-2 on Boxing Day.

Whild is hoping Aman Verma, who scored a brace against Rovers, and Callum Gittings will have recovered from knocks which saw them miss Sunday.

The Reds boss does not expect a repeat of last Friday’s festive treat after rain and snow severely affected the playing surface.

The manager said: “The lads had been playing well and we’ve got to put the Southport result down to just one of those games.

“If I am being honest, we lacked the energy of the previous game and the pitch was also not very good but you can’t use that as an excuse.

“I don’t think we’ll get a repeat of the Boxing Day game because of the conditions and the game will be very tight.”

He added: “With two days in three days, it was always going to be difficult. Aman and Callum wanted to be ready but it wasn’t to be.”

Captain Josh Gowling is also set to be out for between three and four weeks after tearing medial ligaments.

Harriers are set to then play their fourth match in ten days on Sunday at Dartford (3pm ko).

Chairman Ken Rae has said the club are looking at various options to try and repair the pitch.

He said: “The club spent £50,000 putting in new drainage and sprinklers in the summer.

“Unfortunately, we’ve got a problem with the water not being able to get through the top layer but we’re working hard to deal with the problem.”

  •  Meanwhile, Rae has also stressed that Harriers’ board of directors had nothing to do with the signing of the now departed Freddie Ladapo.

Ladapo was signed by previous manager Andy Thorn as a free agent but former chairman Mark Serrell agreed to pay his agents Full Contact a five-figure fee in two instalments.

Rae stressed: “Following on from the reports of Freddie Ladapo’s departure in last week’s Shuttle, we’d like to make it clear that the decision to sign him was Mark Serrell’s and nothing to do with the board of directors.”

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