KIDDERMINSTER Harriers chairman Barry Norgrove has vowed to resist any overtures from League Two outfit Cheltenham Town for manager Mark Yates.

Yates is one of a number of managers linked with the Whaddon Road hot-seat, which was left vacant by Martin Allen last week.

The Robins are thought to have made tentative enquires for Harriers’ highly-rated boss, who is still a popular figure in Gloucestershire after being part of the team which won promotion to the Football League in 1999.

Norgrove is prepared to fight to keep his manager and scare cash-strapped Cheltenham off with a demand for compensation, if they decide he’s their number one target.

Yates and assistant Neil Howarth’s contracts are up at the end of the season but Norgrove confirmed they will offer them another one-year deal.

“We would strongly resist any advances for Mark, he’s done very well and he and Neil are a big part of the club,” commented Harriers chairman.

“Mark is happy here and we certainly don’t want him to go.

“He’s done exceptionally well to build new teams every summer and get us close to the play-offs and he’s part of the family.

“If Cheltenham did make an approach then we’d want money for him and I think that they couldn’t afford him anyway.

“I fully envisage Mark being here in January and we’d certainly want to offer him another contract at the end of the season.”

Yates came to Aggborough as manager in January 2006 and despite limited funds has caught the eye by guiding them to the FA Trophy final in 2007, the FA Cup third round last season and to the edge of the Blue Square Premier promotion in April.

Yates did not want to respond to speculation and said: “I am under contract and I won’t do anything to change that.”

Cheltenham have set tomorrow as the deadline for applications for the job, with local media also linking Graham Westley, Russell Slade and Steve Cotterill with the position.

Yates, though, will be concentrating on Harriers’ Football Conference clash at improving Hayes and Yeading on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

The Aggborough outfit ended a four-match winless run on Saturday with a 2-0 FA Trophy win over Unibond League side Matlock Town, despite missing five first-team regulars.

Martin Riley is back from suspension, keeper Dean Coleman is expected to have recovered from a stomach bug, while on-loan hitmen Damian Spencer and Ryan Charles will be available.

Midfielder David McDermott is set to miss the game after a mystery illness saw him rushed to hospital on Friday.

The former Walsall man had checks this week to determine the problem.

Matthew Barnes-Homer’s goal sank Hayes on the first day of the season but the promoted side are now unbeaten in seven league games.

Yates said: “Matlock wasn’t an easy game and the pitch made it hard for us.

“We had to play a bit differently and be patient but the players showed tremendous attitude from the start.

“It was important we got that win because we’d had a few games without one and it means that we can go into our Christmas games feeling confident.

“Hayes and Yeading are the biggest game of the season, because it’s our next one and we will go down there aiming to get all three points.

“But they’re on a fantastic run and will be different side to the one we played on the first day of the season.”

Harriers are taking the unprecedented step of opening their club shop at Aggborough between 11am and 1pm on Saturday in order to meet demand before Christmas.

The club will have to wait to find out who will play in the second round of the FA Trophy, after the replay between Lewes and Hampton and Richmond was postponed on Wednesday night.

The game has been rescheduled for next Tuesday.