BARRY Norgrove insists Kidderminster Harriers are much better equipped for a Conference promotion challenge this season - after revealing he almost quit after just two months as chairman.

In his most forthright interview since taking the Harriers hot seat, Norgrove talks exclusively about how Aggborough is a much happier place to be than a year ago.

He also reveals that the club are starting the season with a clean slate after finally wiping out all of the debts inherited from the previous regime.

"Twelve months ago we didn't know what was happening about the club and of course we couldn't prepare for anything," he said.

"It left us in limbo and all of a sudden when it happened and we got control it was a bit late to do anything.

"Of course Stuart Watkiss was the manager then, he struggled to get the players that he wanted and that reflected on the season.

"Whether it was because of the disruption or because of Stuart's skills we'll never know but we didn't do very well and we parted company with Stuart."

Norgrove revealed that Harriers had only finished paying off Micky Mellon last month - despite the former Albion midfielder leaving the club around 20 months ago."

He said: "It was a very bad start for us. There was a lot of debt to sort out because things had all been left, the bills built up and the money we put aside to take the club on soon got used up.

"Financially it was in a pretty poor state.

"There was a lot of other players who we were paying off through last season that Jan Molby had signed and then we inherited more through Stuart Watkiss.

"There was Martin O'Connor who we had to pay off and we had to pay off Stuart himself until the end of the season.

"I bet there were seven or eight players that we were paying off last season."

Norgrove said clearing the backlog of debts had enabled the board to give Mark Yates a competitive playing budget for this season.

"It's a clean slate now and the only players we're paying are on new contracts and are players actually here on our books," he said.

"It makes a huge difference because our wage bill went down considerably when we got rid of people and that should give us a better chance for this season.

"Mark came to us in the close season and explained what players he wanted to bring in.

"We need to get a bit of success so we told him to come to us for every player he wants and we'll see whether we can afford it.

"That's how we've gone on and I think Mark has done quite well.

"He's brought in some decent players, we've spent some decent money and hopefully we can get some success on the playing field.

"I'm not saying that we'll win the league, but if we can get up near the play-offs the excitement will be there for everyone."

Norgrove also revealed that Bermuda-based millionaire Gordon Howard will have greater input in the club this season.

Howard's involvement was limited last year after his teenage daughter was diagnosed with cancer - but after intense treatment she is now in remission.

"Gordon is back in the country and hopefully he'll be here for a while," said Norgrove, who welcomed Howard back to Aggborough for the Coventry friendly.

"As soon as he's got over his jetlag we'll be arranging a board meeting to discuss everything that's gone on in his absence.

"His daughter's got the all-clear for three months which we're all very pleased about."

Tickets for a fans' forum in the Aggborough Suite at 7pm on Thursday, August 10, are available priced £10 including fish and chips.

l "I nearly quit" - Norgrove interview continues Page 86.