KIDDERMINSTER Harriers are in talks with potential new investors following a day of frantic fund-raising by the cash-strapped club.

Harriers revealed on Monday they had to raise £155,000 by lunchtime today or be forced into a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA).

Fans donated a “substantial amount of money” which a club statement said gave them a short-term reprieve, therefore avoiding a CVA for now.

They added discussions are taking place with potential new investors in order to provide a longer-lasting solution to Harriers’ cash woes.

All parties have agreed to a strict confidentiality agreement while a short period of due diligence takes place, according to the statement.

In addition, former chairman and vice-chairman Barry Norgrove and Neil Savery also stepped in today to pay the outstanding January wage bill for all staff.

Kidderminster Harriers Independent Supporters’ Trust (KHIST) spent the day urging people to help their beloved club survive with donations and tonight revealed they had raised more than £14,000.

An intensive media and Twitter campaign got the whole country talking about the club’s plight.

KHIST board member Karl Davies urged everyone to attend Saturday’s Blue Square Bet Premier home match with Altrincham (3pm).

With a capacity of 6,250 at Aggborough, Davies believes a full house would help raise almost two-thirds of the cash which was required to get the crisis club through to the end of the season.

“With ticket and programme sales as well as everything else, a full house would bring in around £100,000,” Davies said.

Harriers director Keith Chandler said earlier today: “There have been too many false dawns but we are battling all the way.”

The Aggborough side, who sit one place and a point outside the play-off spots in the Blue Square Bet Premier, would have been deducted 10 points if they had opted for a CVA.

Harriers were forced to act decisively today after the club’s bank account was frozen ahead of a winding-up order from HM Revenue and Customs for an unpaid £16,000 tax bill to be heard on February 23.

To join KHIST, it costs £1 for adults, 50p for under 16s and £30 for corporate membership.

To donate, visit the supporters’ group website at khist.org.uk.

Meanwhile, Harriers midfielder Jack Byrne has been called up by England ‘C’ for tomorrow night’s International Challenge Trophy semi-final with Belgium at Luton (7.30).