O'CONNOR COULD WHEEL AND DEAL IN JANUARY WINDOW

CARETAKER boss Martin O'Connor has dropped his biggest hint yet that he could be tempted to consider managing Harriers on a more permanent basis.

O'Connor has experienced mixed fortunes during his temporary tenure in the Harriers hot-seat with two cup wins sandwiched in between a Conference defeat and draw.

And while the former Blues and Walsall captain remains non-committal about succeeding sacked Stuart Watkiss full-time, his body language now suggests that he could be open to persuasion.

With time ticking down towards the re-opening of the transfer window next week, O'Connor revealed that he had been in discussion with the board over whether he would be allowed to wheel and deal.

And if the player-coach is given the go ahead to recruit or release players, it could be a strong indication of his chances of remaining in the dug-out.

Speaking after the below-par 1-1 draw with Altrincham on Boxing Day, O'Connor said: "After that performance I've probably gone to the bottom of the queue again!

"The club needs to have somebody at the helm and if that's me or if it's somebody else, someone needs to be appointed.

"That decision is a big decision for the club because of the history they've got with managers over the last couple of years.

"It's a big decision and the board are not going to take it lightly, but saying that, it needs to be made."

With Taiwo Atieno's loan spell from Walsall expiring after tomorrow night's home match with Burton Albion, O'Connor is anxious to know how much control he has over comings and goings at the club.

He has spoken to Saddlers boss Paul Merson about the possibility of extending the young striker's stay, but is still waiting to receive a definite answer from the player himself.

"I don't know if he'd like to stay, I've spoken to him about it but he's still undecided at the moment," said O'Connor, before going on to discuss the forthcoming transfer window.

"It's something we've spoken about as a board but if I start wheeling and dealing in the transfer market he (the new manager) might not like the players I've brought in.

"That's something I've got to speak to the board about again and hopefully we'll clarify that in the first part of next week."

O'Connor has re-iterated his desire for the management situation to be resolved as soon as possible, although the board are unlikely to start interviewing before January 9.

"With football, 'OK' is not good enough for me or for the club," he added.

"Things have got to be moving in the right direction.

"For me 'OK' is an easy life and I don't want an easy life, I want to hopefully help the club progress."

Meanwhile, the caretaker boss is demanding a big performance after admitting that the 1-0 defeat at Burton in November contributed towards Watkiss's sacking.

"If it needs freshening up, I'm not afraid to make changes," said O'Connor, who could name himself and fit-again Simon Russell in the 16 for tomorrow's clash against Nigel Clough's part-timers, which kicks off at 7.45pm.