MARK Yates has proved he is not a scrooge by giving his players Christmas Day off - although he has warned them not to take advantage of his goodwill and go overboard on turkey and booze.

Harriers make the short trip to Marston Road to play Stafford Rangers on Boxing Day, but Yates has decided to let his players spend Christmas Day with their families.

The squad were given yesterday off, but trained tpday. They will also train tomorrow and on Sunday, with Monday off and a light pre-match session before travelling to Stafford on Boxing Day morning.

Yates, however, has insisted he expects his players to behave professionally and not get carried away by the Christmas spirit - or spirits!

He said: "I'm trusting them a bit by giving them Christmas Day off because one or two of them live far enough away to not want to travel in.

"Most of them have been in the game long enough to know that they've got to be dedicated over Christmas.

"I'm not going to force them to do things on Christmas Day but I want three points at Stafford and I don't want them feeling the after-effects of drinking and stuffing themselves with turkey."

The squad spent yesterday at the junior supporters' Christmas party, before getting together for their own bash.