11/7/01 OLD foes Bromsgrove Rovers provide Kidderminster Harriers' first pre-season opposition on Saturday at The Victoria Ground (3pm).

But memories of big Conference games between the two will be distant as the Midland Alliance side have freefalled in recent years.

Harriers have just tied down one of their biggest assets plucked from the county rivals in Adie Smith.

The 27-year-old, who joined for £19,000 in 1997, has signed a three-year deal and is set to hold onto his favourite centre-half role.

Meanwhile, boss Jan Molby was happy with his players' response in a gruelling return to training this week.

Harriers were joined by three trialists, including 26-year-old Craig Dean who used to play in Manchester United's youth team with the likes of David Beckham and Paul Scholes.

Dean, a full-back or midfielder, has been much travelled since, playing for Tamworth, Nuneaton, Danish side Esbjerg and Norweigans Sogndal among others.

Molby is also taking another look at former Aston Villa trainee Darren Middleton, 22, a forward who finished last season at Forest Green, and ex-Tranmere youngster Ian Joy, a left-back.

Harriers head to Halesowen Harriers next Monday (7.30pm) and Evesham United on Wednesday (7.45pm).