Hopefully this week we’ll see Harriers with a new man at the helm after a drawn out selection process.

The board of directors have reduced a list of 50 applicants down to a shortlist of six and an announcement should be made in  the next couple of days as to who has got the job.  former Chester, Morecambe and Forest Green manager Jim Harvey is thought to be the leading contender with Gary Brabin, Jeff Kenna, Gary Mills and John Finnigan amongst the other names bandied about.

Jim Harvey - Next Harriers Manager?

Harvey is probably the favourite amongst the Harriers faithful.  He fits the bill as prescribed by chairman Barry Norgrove recently when he said that the new manager should have experience of the Conference or League Two; he certainly has experience of this league having led the three team already mentioned with some degree of success at each.  Even at his most recent position in charge of Chester where he was working with one hand tied behind is back in terms of finances available to bring in players he was able to bring through some promising youngsters and get them trying to play decent football.

I don’t think many Harriers fans would be disappointed to see him given the job, nor would they be too upset if Brabin or Mills were to take charge, given that both men are people who most will have heard of.  The worry, though, is that the board will cave in and give the job to somebody with no experience that noone has heard of or current caretaker-manager Finnigan because they are the ‘cheap option’.

Whoever gets the job will have to be at the top of his game as soon as he comes in as he will have little over a week until the transfer window closes if he wants to bring in any permanent signings, although the opportunity to bring in players on loan will be around for a few weeks longer once the permanent transfer window closes.

Saturday’s trip to Crawley could be very interesting if the new appointment has been made by then, as the board hope; quite possibly the first time Harriers have gone there with any sort of excitement surrounding the game.

Update 20/1/2010: Apparently both Jim Harvey and Jeff Kenna were seen at last night’s FA Trophy match with Lewes.  A press conference has been called at Aggborough tomorrow morning to unveil the new manager.

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