CHAIRMAN Colin Youngjohns believes the club's decision to effectively freeze ticket prices for next season is essential to give Stuart Watkiss a fighting chance of getting Harriers back up.

The Harriers board have opted to keep the cost of admission for matches in the Conference at the same level they have been charging for Football League fixtures.

Youngjohns and his fellow directors agreed on the pricing structure for next season at a hastily arranged board meeting on Tuesday evening.

"I know that we will get people who are upset that we are more or less charging the same prices for tickets despite playing at a lower level," said Youngjohns.

"But I hope supporters understand that this is absolutely necessary if we are to stand any chance of bouncing back.

"Our supporters have been very patient and very loyal all season and I just hope that they can remain loyal to us because we need them more than ever now."

Youngjohns revealed that Harriers stand to lose around £200,000 from television revenue and other sponsorship associated with league football.

And the Aggborough supremo conceded that this loss of income would be reflected in cuts to Watkiss's playing budget.

Last year Kidderminster received £360,000 from league-related sponsorship, and although a parachute payment of £160,000 will help to ease the burden, there is still a significant shortfall.

That is likely to eat up a sizeable chunk of the playing budget which is understood to have been around £600,000 for the 2004-05 campaign.

"We will try to put as much money onto the pitch as we possibly can but of course the budget is going to be less," he said.

"We've got a significant loss of income to replace and we have to do our utmost through investment and commercial activities to do that."

There have been calls from some sections of the Kidderminster support for Youngjohns to step down from the Harriers hotseat.

But the lifelong Kidderminster fan has hinted that he will soldier on in the absence of anybody better or richer to take the helm.

"As chairman I am ultimately responsible and I knew that I would get stick from some people because it goes with the territory," he said.

"The vast majority of supporters and the ones who recognise the club's humble beginnings have been as good as gold to me.

"I am in no rush to stand down because in all honesty there is no viable alternative who cares about the club as much as I do.

"There's an AGM in a few weeks time and if people want me to step aside then I will do, but now is not the time to be making rash decisions."

ADMISSION PRICES

Terrace: adults, £13; over-65s, £8; under-16s; £5 (reduced from this season's price of £8)

Seats: adults, £16; over-65s, £11.

Under-16s sitting in the family areas, £6; under-16s sitting elsewhere in the ground, £11.

From next season Harriers fans will benefit from a new initiative which sees under-8s gain free access to matches.

SEASON TICKET PRICES

Harriers have announced arrangements and prices for existing season ticket-holders who have from May 10-28 to renew.

The prices are the same as this year, but take into account the fact Harriers will only play 21 home games in the Conference, two fewer than in the Football League.

Terraces: adults, £210; over-65s, £124; students aged 16-22, £82.

Seats: adults, £269; over-65s, £178; students aged 16-22, £151; under-16s, £90.

Junior supporters membership for under-16s will be £25.