THREE former Aggborough fans' favourites, whose departures coincided with Harriers' Football League demise, have expressed their sympathy at the club's plight.

The decision to release Dean Bennett, Craig Hinton and Mark Yates last summer was seen by many supporters as the beginning of the end for Kidderminster.

And the trio themselves insist that it has been painful helplessly watching their beloved club's relegation from afar.

Bennett recently won an LDV Vans Trophy medal for Wrexham after coming on as a substitute in their Millennium Final win over Southend.

But the Wolverhampton-born midfielder gives the impression he would willingly swop it to have helped the club closest to his heart stay in the league.

"I'm absolutely gutted for them because they're the team that I love," he said.

"I watched quite a few games at Kiddy this year and the games I saw under Watkiss they looked like a decent team. It was just a case of too little too late.

"It's a family club and I've always felt like part of the family so I feel sorry for everybody involved."

Bennett modestly refused to blow his own trumpet but admitted the departure of himself Yates and Hinton might have played a part in Harriers downfall.

"I feel people like me and Craig were the spine of the team because after four years in the league we knew each other's games.

"But at the end of last year a lot of players went and they got a lot of young lads in.

"Me and Craig grew up at Kidderminster and felt as though it was our club so it was disappointing when we had to leave.

"We didn't want to leave.

"I would have loved to have gone back at some point if they'd have stopped in the league and you never say never."

Hinton echoed his friend's sentiments and admitted it has been painful to look out for Harriers results after stepping off the pitch with Bristol Rovers each week.

"I still keep in touch with John Danby, Wayne Hatswell, Dean Keates and Ian Foster so they have kept me informed about what's gone on," said Hinton.

"I saw Barney (assistant manager Gary Barnett) at a reserve game the other day and he looked devastated.

"I've got a lot of friends still there, players and staff behind the scenes so it is horrible that this has happened."

Hinton believes Harriers have the management team and the know-how to bounce back at the first attempt.

He said: "It's going to be a struggle but I think with Stuart and Gary they can do well in the Conference.

"I think there will be big changes at the club over the summer but I think the fact they spent so long in the Confernce can only help them."

Yates, who still lives in Hartlebury, has taken the time out from his hectic schedule as Burnley's assistant boss to watch his old club in action several times this season.

And despite the low attendances at Aggborough, the 35-year-old insists that Kidderminster's die-hard supporters do deserve league football.

"I'm not going to comment on where the club went wrong, I'm sure mistakes have been made and that's why they are where they are but I'm not going to put the blame on anybody," he said.

"I wish them all the best for next season and I'd like to see them pushing for promotion.

"Once you've been up there the fans will want it again.

"I live a couple of miles from the ground and I can see the floodlights from where I am and I certainly want league football two miles from where I live.

"The diehard Harriers fans certainly deserve it but I also know it's a big struggle having a fan base of just 2,000 people and not having someone prepared to put some serious money into the club."