A FORMER chairman of Kidderminster Harriers is prepared to wait four years for the Nationwide Conference leaders to pay him back a loan of £212,563.

David Reynolds revealed he was willing to play a waiting game during discussions which followed Kidderminster's brief annual meeting of shareholders at Aggborough last night.

A rift opened up recently between Reynolds and current chairman Lionel Newton regarding the loan which was due for repayment on December 17 last year.

Newton said the cash demand could threaten the future of the club who are pushing hard for promotion to the Football League.

Last night, however, Rey-nolds, who quit as chairman in December 1998, eased his initial demand for repayment by saying he was willing to wait four years for settlement.

Harriers had originally put an offer to him to pay back the amount over a period of time.

His decision to wait follows a recent meeting with three of Kidderminster's directors.

He told shareholders: "There is a potential deal there which I'm prepared to wait for four years and I think everybody would agree that that is a generous offer."

Newton said there had not been a board meeting since the trio of directors had held talks with Reynolds.

He added that when they do meet a decision will be made on Reynolds' suggestion that he waits four years.

"We are in dialogue with David and I hope at the end of the day that we can come to an amicable agreement. As David knows when he was chairman, this club has not got money. It wasn't making money and is not in a position to pay this.

"It was his decision to put the demand against the club. I can't stop that demand, but all I hope is that everyone sees sense and we can go forward in an amicable way because it's the only thing for this club."

Newton, meanwhile, reassured shareholders that he would personally pay for any work needed to upgrade Aggborough to comply with Football League standards by the start of next season.

As reported previously Harriers lost £277,328 for the year ended May 31, 1999.