STUART Watkiss has hauled his Harriers under-achievers into training all day, every day this week in a bid to end their worrying blip in form by "getting back to basics", writes Mat Kendrick.

Watkiss insists the double daily training sessions are designed to get his misfiring players doing the simple things right, rather than to act as a punishment for their poor results.

Four defeats in five games - including three successive home defeats - have made Harriers' steady start to the season a distant memory and have piled pressure on Watkiss.

But the under-fire Aggborough boss insists he will leave no stone unturned in his efforts to arrest Kidderminster's alarming slide.

"We've got the players in every day but it is not to punish them," said Watkiss, who desperately needs a win at home to Morecambe at 1pm on Saturday.

"We just need to get back to basics and start doing the simple things right again.

"Every team, and that includes Chelsea, will have a blip at some stage in the season and unfortunately we're going through ours at the moment.

"If you knew the answer you would be able to solve it straight away, but it's not that easy.

"There's no magic formula and you can't just wave a magic wand to put it right. The only way of overcoming it is through good old-fashioned hard work, so that's what we're doing."

Underachieved

Watkiss revealed the response from the dressing room to the extra training sessions had been positive and he underlined the importance of his players facing up to their responsibilities.

"I'm the manager and ultimately the blame lies with me but I've told the lads it's up to them to stand up and be counted as well," he said.

"As a club and as a team we have collectively underachieved and we need to put that right.

"I've told the players they can either stand alongside me or they can stand behind me.

"I'm sure I've got the characters in the dressing room to stick together and to get us out of this."

Watkiss is adamant that he has not become a bad coach overnight and he believes dragging Harriers out of their current rut will make him a stronger, better manager.

"I personally believe in my ability and I had success at Mansfield bringing players through and winning promotion.

"But that was two or three years ago, it's in the past and you can't afford to rest on your laurels in football.

"It's how you deal with the poor periods and how you come out the other side which helps you improve."

l Morecambe are currently fourth, nine places above Harriers. Their 1-0 defeat at Forest Green Rovers ended a run of three wins over Burton, Stevenage and Accrington.