KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Mark Yates has insisted that the club won't be held to ransom by players after the departure of striker Iyseden Christie.

The 18-goal hitman turned down a new offer to re-sign for the Aggborough club last week and instead joined big-spending Stevenage Borough on a free transfer.

Yates, though, believes that there was nothing more he could have done to secure Christie, who had verbally agreed to sign a new deal, before opting to join Harriers' Blue Square Premier rivals.

"We couldn't have done any more to keep Iyseden at the club and offered him a good deal," said Yates.

"We try and do things properly here and we talk to players about new contracts after the season has ended.

"I spoke to Iyseden after he made the decision and he told me the move was about money."

Christie, who scored 44 goals in 126 appearances for Harriers over four years, was offered a new deal at the end of last season but believes the club could have secured him if they had acted swifter.

"I was happy to stay at Harriers but felt that they did not appreciate what it had," said Christie.

"They were eager to sign me up but I had wanted all of this sorted by the end of the season.

"By the time Harriers came back to me with a deal that I was happy with, I had already spoken to Stevenage and had been impressed by them."

Harriers' manager believes that he will have to be patient as he tries to strengthen his squad with a smaller budget compared to the summer of 2007.

He is currently scouring the leagues for players to bolster his squad for the 2008-2009 campaign.

"We are working within tight financial reins and that means we have to be careful," said the manager.

"I want to build a strong team which will do well next season and we are all working very hard to make sure that happens.

"We're trying to bring in the best players possible for the right money and that means we're biding our time."

Meanwhile, Yates has spoken to out of contract winger Simon Russell's agent about a new deal.