KIDDERMINSTER Harriers are now looking to add some much-needed experience to their forward line after signing defender Keith Lowe.

Lowe, 30, returns to the club he played for during the 2008-09 campaign with distinction and has signed until the end of the season.

Despite being bottom of the Vanarama National League, being 13 points from safety and looking for a new head coach after Dave Hockaday’s departure, the club have not given up hope of survival.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man (in the video above), who stated on social media he’d turned down a number of offers to play for Harriers, featured 46 times for Kiddy.

He nearly made 400 senior appearances with successful spells at Cheltenham, Hereford and York.

The powerful centre back was a free agent after departing the Minstermen in December. His arrival means Harriers may well have to balance the books in order to pay for him.

Chief executive and caretaker manager Colin Gordon said: “Keith’s got a great pedigree and has been a very reliable consistent player over a number of years.

“He fits the bill and we’re really pleased to have him here.

“We needed someone who is unaffected by our league position.

“Experienced players don’t come cheap so we’ll have to look at finances.”

Harriers are also keen to bolster their forward options but have turned their attention elsewhere after former Kidderminster man Nathan Blissett opted to sign for relegation rivals Torquay instead.

Gordon said: “We offered Nathan a good deal for us but he’s still based in Bristol.

“But we still want to bring in one more player who’s hopefully a striker.”

Lowe’s return marked a positive week to contrast from Hockaday’s departure last Thursday.

Popular Bournemouth midfielder Ben Whitfield has re-signed on a youth loan after his previous loan had came to an end.

Utility man Zaine Francis-Angol has also penned a new 18 month deal, reinforcing Harriers’ stance they will remain full-time next season – even if they are relegated to the Vanarama North.

Harriers believe they will have a clean slate next season when it comes to finances and have increased revenue through the commercial department.

Part of the plan rests on renegotiating the partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College over the academy, and Gordon is positive about the club’s prospects.

He said: “Next season we’ll have a blank slate in terms of money we owe. We also expect revenue to increase because of the work we’ve done this season.

“Even if we lose some revenue going down because we’ll get less money from the league, we’re confident that we’ll be in a better position financially next year.

“I can’t say too much about some of our plans for next year but things look positive.”

Meanwhile, Harriers hope to play their first game of the year when they go to leaders Cheltenham next Tuesday (7.45pm ko).

They were set to play Aston Villa under-21s in a behind the scenes games this week as part of preparations.

Harriers, who don’t have a fixture this weekend, saw their midweek clash at Braintree called off because of a waterlogged pitch.