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Delighted: Mark Yates is happy that Mark Creighton has signed a new contract.

MANAGER Mark Yates believes the securing of defender Mark Creighton to Kidderminster Harriers until 2010 is a sign that the club means business in the Blue Square Premier.

The ever-reliable captain, 27, has been rewarded for being one of Harriers' most consistent performers with a new two-year contract at Aggborough.

Creighton, who was voted player of the season for the second year in a row, has become a key member of the squad and has played 41 times this season.

Yates is also hopeful that the securing of the towering centreback will send out the message that Harriers are determined to hold onto their best players.

"I think Mark is one of the division's best defenders and I am delighted to have signed him up," said the manager.

"He's big, strong, whole-hearted and a real rock at the back and I thought it was important to secure him first.

"He's my captain and been incredibly consistent, so this is a very big signing for us.

"Now that we have secured him we will be talking to some of the other players we want to keep over the next few weeks.

"I think it's very important to have got him first because it sends the right message out that we want to keep our best players."

As the end of the season approaches Harriers only have Russ Penn, Justin Richards, Paul Bignot, Michael McGrath and now Creighton contracted to the club for the 2008-2009 campaign.

Yates will also sit down and talk to Jeff Kenna about the former Republic of Ireland international's future over the next week.

The 37-year-old ex-Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers man has been linked with the manager's job at Eircom League side Galway United.

Kenna has passed his UEFA A coaching licence and is thought to be eager to get into management after a long and distinguished playing career.

The right-back has been one of Harriers' most consistent players since signing for the club in 2006 but his contract ends in the summer.

Yates said: "I have the greatest respect for Jeff and we have a good relationship.

"I am aware of his situation and we will sit down and see what happens next."

Despite all the contract talk Yates wants his side to focus on stretching their seven-match unbeaten run in the league, when they go to Weymouth on Saturday and entertain Burton Albion in their final home game of the season on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).

Yates expects Creighton to have recovered from the infected blisters which kept him out of Saturday's 1-1 home draw to Histon.

On their travels Harriers are in top form, scoring 13 goals as they powered to three successive away wins.

"I thought that we played some lovely stuff against Histon, even though we only drew the game," added the manager.

"We have put together a good run of form in the last few weeks and that was important because I wanted us to end the season as strongly as possible.

"Some of the football we have played in the last month or so has been absolutely excellent and it is important we maintain that until the end of the season."

The manager also has to choose whether to stick with keeper Dean Coleman or pick the fit again Chris MacKenzie for Saturday's clash.

He has decided to play MacKenzie twice before the end of the season and give Coleman, who has deputised ably for the last five games, one more start.

n Harriers' final league game of the season at Woking on Saturday, April 26 has been moved to a 5.15pm kick-off.

The match has been moved to a later start time because Setanta wish to televise a match and all games must start simultaneously on the last day of the season.

9:00am Thursday 17th April 2008

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