BUSY Kidderminster Harriers boss Ian Britton missed out in a pre-deadline day swoop for veteran front-man Andy Rammell.

The ex-Barnsley and Walsall forward, released by Wycombe, had already agreed to join Division Three relegation fighters Bristol Rovers.

Britton is after a defender and an attacking midfielder or striker to beat today's 5pm transfer deadline and boost Harriers' flagging squad.

Late last week Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Michael Branch turned down Kidderminster.

Now Midlands man Rammell, 36, has slipped from the grasp of Britton who discovered his target had already tied up a deal with Rovers' Ray Graydon until the end of the season.

Britton said: "I thought he would give the squad a little lift at what is an important time of the season for us.

"However, by the time I managed to get permission to speak to him, he was just on his way back from Bristol having signed for them.

"It's a shame as he admitted he would have been interested in speaking to me about coming here."

To make matters worse, Harriers lose loan defender Wes Morgan after Saturday's game at Macclesfield.

Morgan, who should be fit to play at Moss Rose following a back problem, is to be recalled by Nottingham Forest afterwards.

Britton had wanted to extend the centre-back's stay but now also has to contend with an injury to fellow defender Lee Ayres who needed five stitches in his ankle at Lincoln.

However, Bo Henriksen and Scott Stamps are expected to return to the starting line-up for Harriers, who are still without John Melligan on Republic of Ireland U-21s duty.

Dean Bennett is likely to stay on the bench as he is short of match fitness following a hamstring tear.

But there was good news on Dion Scott, who damaged a shoulder at Lincoln but not the same one that needed surgery earlier in the season.

Harriers travel to struggling Macclesfield on the back of a disappointing spell of two points from three games.

They drew 2-2 at home to bottom-of-the-table Swansea last weekend and then lost 1-0 at play-off rivals Lincoln City on Tuesday but Harriers are still just two points off the top seven.

Shuttle, Times & News sports editor James Reece will bring live coverage of Harriers' match at Macclesfield on K107.2FM this Saturday, the fifth game covered by the trial station.