STUART Watkiss has revealed the atmosphere in the Aggborough dressing room is unrecognisable from when he first arrived at the club.

Other than vocal midfielder Dean Keates there was barely a peep form the rest of the Harriers squad, according to the manager.

But Watkiss insists he has gradually developed an all-for-one-and-one for-all mentality among the players.

"Morale wasn't super, but equally it wasn't that bad," he said.

"The natural traits of a lot of the players in the dressing room is that they are quiet lads anyway.

"Normally if you go to a football club there's always four or five "jokers in the pack", but there didn't seem to be any here. Keatesy (Dean Keates) was the only chirpy one, although Tom Bennett has become a bit more vocal of late because he'd only just come to the club when I arrived."

Watkiss insists an optimistic outlook is vital if Harriers are to claw themselves out of trouble.

"If you were to go into the dressing room now, there's always music playing," he added.

"My office is right next door to it and there's always laughter coming from there.

"That's important because we want to make this place a positive place to come.

"I think they enjoy the training and the atmosphere about the place and if we're to get out of this situation we need that to continue."