THE battle for control of Kidderminster Harriers has reached a complete stalemate with major shareholder Lionel Newton still waiting for chairman Colin Youngjohns to make the first move.

Tomorrow's Friday the 13th deadline will pass without the Aggborough power struggle moving any closer to resolution because of the stand-off between Youngjohns and his predecessor in the Harriers hotseat.

The two men have not even spoken since the Grimsby match on Saturday April 30 when Youngjohns and the current board made a verbal offer to buy Newton's majority shareholding.

Newton told the Shuttle/Times & News last week that he hoped to decide between that bid and rival interest from a Farnborough consortium by tomorrow.

But the former chairman insists he has yet to receive a formal written offer from either party so is in no position to make up his mind. He also denied that the current board had verbally bid £450,000 and said the only figure they had offered was £250,000.

"I would have thought that by now I would have had a formal offer in writing from the current board," said Newton.

"Well they've not been in contact with me since the Grimsby match. I haven't had a formal offer from the current board and the figure of £450,000 is not correct."

The fact that Newton's former boardroom adversary David Reynolds is a key player in the current board's consortium is believed to be a primary factor in the Welshman's reluctance to do business with them.

The two former chairmen had a well-documented bust-up when they were both board members and there is still known to be bad blood between them.

Youngjohns has complained that he has not been kept informed of any developments by Newton. He said: "We haven't made a formal offer because we haven't been asked to I'm willing to sit down and talk to resolve this for the good of the club."

The Farborough consortium have been given a further 14 days by Newton to draw up a firm bid. His advisers are in contact with their lawyers and accountants and their arrival at Aggborough to check the books is imminent, although any deal is still some way off. Contrary to some reports, consortium leader Roy Higgins has yet to visit the club.

In another twist, the Kidderminster Harriers Independent Supporters Trust (KHIST) are thought to be contemplating their own audacious takeover bid.

Raising the six-figure sum needed to secure Newton's majority holding is an ambitious scheme for the fans group who are investigating stumping up funds through Supporters Direct and a new shares scheme.

KHIST chairman Alan Shepherd was reluctant to confirm he had held talks with Newton for fear of adding to the speculation sweeping Aggborough.

He said: "There is so much rumour and counter rumour going about at the moment that until the facts are known there's no point in making a comment.

"All I will say is that we, as the supporter's trust, are monitoring the situation with interest."

l Harriers' main sponsor has pledged its ongoing support to the club during its hour of need by putting its money where its mouth is for a second year.

Bosses of Hire-It! have urged supporters to follow suit by snapping up their season tickets for next season now.John Davies, owner of the plant and tool hire firm, has paid the fee for next season's shirt sponsorship in advance to boost the cash-strapped club's coffers.

He believes fans need to put their hand in their pockets to safeguard the club's future and give manager Stuart Watkiss a chance of building a competitive squad.

He said: "We want to avoid playing catch-up because that's what caused all the trouble last season.

"As a local company which cares about the club and the community, we've made a gesture to continue sponsoring the club and to pay up front.

"The power struggle at the club might be putting people off buying tickets but that is the last thing we need when we're trying to generate money to give the manager to bring in players."

If season ticket sales reach 500 by the end of May, Davies has pledged to sponsor Harriers for a third year - and pay the fee now, which he will top up with extra funds if the club achieves promotion.