WYRE Forest soccer fans have been urged to get behind Kidderminster Harriers and ensure they remain a Football League club.

That's the message from boss Jan Molby who realises Saturday's home clash with Shrewsbury Town is perhaps their best chance of a valuable win in the last seven games.

The fight to avoid the final relegation spot is expected to be a close-run battle with nine points separating bottom club Torquay and 14th-placed Mansfield.

Harriers, who lost 2-1 at lowly Exeter on Saturday, are eight points away from the basement in 16th but some teams have games in hand.

Molby warned: "If you want to come to Aggborough on Saturday and moan and groan, then I suggest you stay away.

"We are all in it together and we want the fans to come up here and back us. We need them to.

"It's our first season in the Football League and we've fought hard to get here. We want to stay and I think we can. The fans can play a massive part.

"They couldn't believe what they were seeing last season and were walking on air. Now it's the other way round.

"Every football club apart from the dominant forces in the Premiership go through what we are going through at the moment. If you can't handle it, you shouldn't be in football.

"I believe the Third Division has improved every season over the last three or four years. In the 80s and some of the 90s, it had been much of a muchness.

"But now clubs are getting better and younger players. It might take them six months to get used to the level but they are coming into teams and becoming excellent Third Division players."

After a last-gasp 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury earlier this month where Harriers missed chances, the players know they are more than capable of winning the derby clash.

Adie Smith is expected to return to the side after missing most of March with a groin injury.

Molby said: "We know what Shrewsbury are all about and we have to get after them.

"They've had a good run of late and we have to be aware of their threats, mainly through front-runner (Luke) Rodgers.

"Their two centre-halves, Matt Redmile and Simon Collins, have done well together. But we know if we're anywhere near our best, we will win the game.

"Our home ground has been the greatest source of our wins. The spirit is still there in the side and I do believe we have to produce a result at some stage. I think we are looking at our best chance this Saturday."

Molby looked back on the form which has seen them win just twice in 2001 and admitted: "Nobody could have anticipated that.

"It's all very well being the better team when the other side have the goals and the points in the bag.

"However, I still don't think we are a long way from being a better team with a few new players possibly and one or two others taking more responsibility."

Meanwhile, the release of midfielder Ian Bogie was a sad moment for the club.

Bogie, 33, settled the remaining year on his contract after 29 appearances and two goals and will join his family in the Newcastle area.

The experienced campaigner had been a major summer signing for Molby after being freed by Port Vale but his struggle for form was not helped by a back injury.

Molby admitted: "I think Ian jumped into the move a little too quickly and didn't think it through what with being five-and-a-half hours away from his family.

"Missing pre-season at his age was massive. With his experience and know-how, I hoped we could overcome that but we couldn't.

"Nobody has any complaints as he tried as hard as anyone else and was a good influence in the dressing room. He could have used his back problem as an excuse much more than he did."