KIDDERMINSTER Harriers legend Lee Hughes could be about to net a small fortune for the club that launched him on the road to stardom.

Hughes, one of the most feared strikers outside the Premiership, has refused a new contract with his beloved West Bromwich Albion, sparking a battle for his signature.

And that could spell a much-needed pay out of as much as £750,000 for Harriers if the First Division club decide to cash in on the ginger hitman rather than see him walk away on a free transfer when his contract ends next summer.

Baggies fans begged £5 million-rated Hughes, signed from Harriers in 1997 with a 15 per cent sell-on clause, to stay during their Aggborough friendly with Harriers on Saturday, which saw Jan Molby's men notch up a confidence-boosting 2-1 win and stay unbeaten in their pre-season games.

A Harriers XI triumphed by the same scoreline against neighbours Stourport Swifts on Monday night.

Harriers were due to play Birmingham City last night before wrapping up their warm-up programme with visits to non-league Nuneaton on Saturday and Halesowen Town on Monday.

And manager Molby has bolstered his squad ahead of the big kick-off on August 11 by signing left-back Ian Joy on a two-year contract.

The former Tranmere trainee had impressed as a trialist.

"We've always said we wanted to create some competition for the left-back place and we think we've found a really good one," Molby said.

The Harriers boss is also in talks with fellow trialist, French defender Sall Abdou, and hopes to secure his signature this week.

Former Aston Villa trainee Darren Middleton has not been offered a contract after a "difficult decision" was made.

The capture of Joy is another signal of Molby's intention to build a nucleus of good young players for the future after the signing of 17-year-old striking prodigy Matt Lewis.

"We're trying to cater for the present and the future. You don't turn young players into Division Three players overnight. They get two or three run outs then in 12 months or two years they make up the majority of the first team," he added.

Molby currently has a fully-fit squad available for selection, although Drewe Broughton and Danny Williams will be suspended when the season starts.