CHAIRMAN Lionel Newton today launched a stinging attack on football followers in the Wyre Forest area for their lack of support for Kidderminster Harriers.

His outburst comes in the wake of Harriers' FA Cup clash against Darlington at Aggborough on Saturday which was watched by what he describes as an 'absolutely deplorable' gate of 2,471.

Newton said he found it 'hard to accept' that the Third Division outfit were struggling to match gates that clubs a couple of leagues below them managed to attract for their FA Cup ties on Saturday.

"Worcester City, for instance, got nearly 1,000 more than we had," he said.

City's clash with Division Three newcomers Rushden & Diamonds pulled in a gate of 3,313 to St George's Lane on a day when they lost 1-0. Harriers also bowed out to The Quakers by a similar margin.

Newton said: "I was very, very disappointed in our gate. I can't believe that the town and the community have allowed it to happen.

"The gate was absolutely deplorable when there were clubs which are two leagues below us, playing in the same FA Cup, who had nearly 1,000 more than we had. I find it very disturbing and very hard to accept."

Newton said that Harriers' defeat had also been damaging financially, having missed out on the £20,000 on offer for the winners of all first-round ties.

"Obviously we had hoped to get through. We had planned and budgeted for the monies from the first round.

"But it wasn't just that. We were hoping to get an easier draw in the next round to take us in with the big clubs in the third round.

"If we had drawn a Liverpool or an Arsenal or whatever then that would have been the answer for the club financially. It sets us back a little bit."

Harriers boss Jan Molby also admitted he did not expect such a poor turn-out against Darlington.

He said: "It surprised me how low the gate was. We keep talking about it but there's nothing we can do about it. Certainly in the last few performances, especially at home, we have provided good entertainment. But you can't force people through the turnstiles."

Harriers bounced back to form with a fine 1-0 win at Lincoln City last night.

Dean Bennett's late goal lifted Harriers into 11th place, and gave them a third successive League win for the first time.