KIDDERMINSTER Harriers chairman Lionel Newton today spelt out his determination to maintain the club's climb up the soccer ladder.

The millionaire Aggborough chief said: "We're not in this division to mess around! We want to be out there fighting for honours."

Newton, who has plough-ed more than £1.4 million of his own fortune into the Third Division new boys, re-vealed he was persuaded into opening the chequebook by manager Jan Molby and his assistant Gary Barnett in order to capture Ian Bogie this week on a free transfer.

"Jan has gone over the budget we set for him at the beginning of the season, but he was adamant we had to get Ian.

"Jan isn't the type of manager who goes out and buys any old player for the sake of it. After talks with Jan we felt we had to act quickly if we weren't to lose Ian to another side," said Newton.

It was Newton who gave Molby the green light to sign Andy Ducros from Nuneaton last month in a record-breaking £100,000 deal. But the Harriers' chairman admits: "It was a lot of money for this club to spend on one player, but I think Andy showed glimp-ses last Saturday of what he can do, despite not being 100 per cent match fit.

"He looks to be a terrific player and I'm sure he will become a crowd favourite".

Newton also praised the Aggborough faithful for their support last Saturday: "They were absolutely superb from start to finish. It's not cheap to watch football these days, but they have shown their faith in the club by purchasing a record amount of season tickets.

"The more money we have coming into the club through the turnstiles, the more money Jan will have at his disposal for strengthening his squad if he so wishes.