CHAIRMAN Rod Brown has said he’s been taken aback by the number of season tickets snapped up by Kidderminster Harriers fans, writes Peter McKinney.

The club have sold 482 early bird season tickets and are on course to pass 600 for the 2015-16 season in the Vanarama National League.

Around 100 juniors are also on board, meaning the club should reach the number purchased last summer, which has exceeded Harriers’ expectations.

Officials at the Aggborough outfit were concerned last year’s money worries may have alienated the club’s faithful.

But the appointment of Brown as chairman in April and the club’s efforts to restructure and communicate openly has earned the fans’ approval.

“I have been taken aback by the number of season tickets we have sold,” said the chairman.

“We’ve sold 482 but that’s not including juniors, which is about 100 or so.

“I believe we will have sold between 600 and 700, which is about the par for Harriers.

“But in the context of all the problems the club endured last season, this is a tremendous amount.

“I have to say thanks for the fans for getting right behind the club and showing a lot of faith in the hard work we are putting in.

“We are putting trying to put in place a structure which will serve the club in the long term, so it may take a while but we want to get the club going in the right direction.”

While the surge won’t increase the club’s playing budget, believed to be £250,000, any extra cash could be used to back manager Gary Whild in January.

Meanwhile, Harriers look set to miss out on a cash boost if former winger Marvin Johnson earns a big money move.

Reports in Scotland say his heroics for Motherwell have attracted the attention of Leeds United, Rangers and Celtic.

Harriers sold Johnson to the Scottish Premier side for £30,000 in January as they desperately tried to raise much-needed funds.

The winger had turned down a new deal in November and would have walked away for free at the end of the season.

But the club, lead by former chairman Ken Rae, were unable to get a sell-on clause if the former Romulus attacker was sold.

Brown said: “Unfortunately there was no sell-on clause put in Marvin’s deal when he went to Motherwell.

“He was out of contract at the end of the season and I believe there was a sense that his sale was rushed just to bring in some money at the time.

“It’s the same for Nathan Blissett, because there was nothing in his move to Bristol Rovers about Harriers getting some cash if they were promoted.

“We have to ensure there is long-term planning at the club and avoid situations like this.”