FIVE "saviours" of Kidderminster Harriers have cried foul after being told to stump up cash for their free seats.

The Harriers life members are raging after the football club said it could no longer provide free tickets because it was losing money.

The former board members feel it is a kick in the teeth, stating they saved Harriers from financial ruin in the 1970s and should not be part of a cost-cutting exercise.

Group spokesman Mick Morris said: "We have put more than 100 years into this club and feel we deserve some recognition.

"We have been treated shabbily. We turned a run-down club, which easily could have gone out of existence, into a profit-making one.

"We were not made of money but used to put our houses on the line every year when signing on to the bank."

He added: "It is a great shame it has come to this because it is the football club which suffers.

"We think there is more to this than finance. The club has been insolvent for some time but now our five seats have become an issue - when there are about 300 empty every week it is an insult.

The other four life members include Jeff Baker about whom Harriers vice-chairman Colin Youngjohns wrote in the club's official centenary history in 1986: "Kidderminster Harriers have not had, nor will they ever get - a more loyal servant than Jeffrey Baker."

Peter Fryar, company secretary for 10 years, Dick Monger, who increased the club daily-dip membership from 1,900 to 14,000 members, and John Healey, involved in everything from catering to decorating at the club, complete the list.

Mr Morris, instrumental in ground improvements at Aggborough, suggested club chairman Lionel Newton could quit if he was feeling the financial strain.

In a letter to the chairman he wrote: "The cost of running the club is becoming more and more expensive but you as a very successful businessman would have known this from day one.

"It can only be assumed that you do it because you can afford to and you enjoy what you do. If this is not the case then I would suggest it is time to withdraw."

Mr Newton, who has financed Harriers rise to the Football League, declined to comment to the Shuttle/Times & News but referred to a letter he had written to the group.

In it he explained the club raised just over £20,000 from a written issue to shareholders - not enough to pay a young player's wages.

He said it was with "deep regret" that while the club was losing money it could no longer give free tickets.

He added: "I sincerely hope you understand the board's decision as we only have the long-term interest of the club at heart.

"I would like to thank you for all the work you have done for the club over the years. Without your help and commitment the club would not be where it is today.

"If in the future the club becomes financially secure the board will reconsider this position."