GARY Whild says the young and hungry squad he's assembled at Kidderminster Harriers has reignited the fire in his belly.

As the club wrap up preparations for the opening game of the Vanarama National League 2015-16 campaign at home to Grimsby Town on Saturday the manager is looking forward to the season, despite the challenges he faces.

Whild and right hand men Mark Creighton and Tim Flowers have had to transform the squad on a much-reduced budget, which has been cut in half because of the club’s money worries.

It's been a summer of transition as the last members of the squad which finished runners-up in the 2012-13 season moved on, with Callum Gittings, Danny Lewis and Jack Byrne all dropping down into part-time football at Solihull Moors.

The club have stuck to their tried and tested formula of signing promising players from lower down the non-league pyramid, with Jordan Jones, Calvin Dinsley and Gurjit Singh all grasping the chance to become professional footballers.

Academy starlets Luke Maxwell, Kennedy Digie and Jordan Harrison are also primed to take their chance and there is a sense of excitement around Aggborough.

It's in stark contrast to the final months of last season, where player, management and fan morale was hit hard by the club's money worries and difficulty in paying wages.

With new chairman Rod Brown and the board putting in place a new structure behind the scenes, there is a sense of the club moving forward with purpose.

But the Harriers boss in realistic about the club’s hopes. During his five years at the club, he’s been used to Kidderminster pushing for promotion to the Football League but he’s well aware of the challenges he faces.

"There is a lot more optimism and the players can feel that," said the Harriers boss.

"From what I have seen there is a lot of reason for optimism and when you look at Luke Maxwell, Kennedy Digie, Dan Sweeney, George Forsyth and Jordan Harrison they give you a lift.

"It gives the management a lift because they are ready to go, keen and enthusiastic and lead by five or six experienced players, which helps.

"Whatever people talk about off the pitch, fans relate to what happens on it, I understand that.

"Without going over old ground I have been fortunate during my time here we've always been competitive.

"If the fans can see the lads having a go, putting plenty of effort in I think they will get behind them."

Harriers have also added much-needed experience and the addition of highly-rated Wrexham midfielder Joe Clarke is the sort of signing which turn heads.

The arrival of utility man Lathaniel Rowe-Turner from Alfreton and loanees Kelvin Langmead and goalkeeper Alex Palmer on loan from West Bromwich, also adds steel to Harriers' spine.

The securing of trialists Adam Dawson and Dean Snedker have also bolstered the squad.

"You can't have young lads without anybody to learn from," added the manager.

"Even with all the information we can give them in training or pre-match, they can only be helped on the pitch by the players who have been there and done it, so it was great to get them in.

"You can be realistic but on the first day of the season you want to be as competitive as you can and finish as high in the table as you can.

"That's why Grimsby is such a great opening fixture, because there's no better way to judge yourself against a team tipped for promotion."