We Have Matured This Summer Says Harriers' Weeks

Declan Weeks feels we’re about to see a more grown up Kidderminster Harriers next season.

The midfielder believes the club have not only signed well this summer on the pitch but off it as well.

New manager Neil MacFarlane has arrived and Weeks thinks he has installed a certain resilience to the club’s backline.

Kiddy go into this weekend’s National League North opener having beaten Solihull Moors 3-0.

Harriers have gone under the radar a little this summer but the former Southport man is hopeful of a challenge.

He met the National League’s Oli Osborn to discuss the season ahead and Weeks thinks the fans have plenty to be excited about.

“We’ve done a lot of shape work so hopefully we’re more organised and less naïve in our defending,” he assessed. “So hopefully we can bring that into the new season and concede less goals but also score a lot more.

“Last season was very good but we started really slowly and it ended disappointingly with the play-off defeat. Hopefully we can push on and go one better this time.

“We have made some really good new signings and they all bring something different.

“Jonno [Ryan Johnson] is big, strong and comfortable on the ball. Billy [Billy Daniels] has got a great engine and is very composed and Chambo [Ashley Chambers] brings goals.”

Weeks has adopted a more defensive midfield approach this summer - and it’s not something he has an issue with.

“(Former manager) John Eustace spoke to me about coming up on the game and not just sitting and helping out with the press,” he explains.

“So ai suppose I’m helping out higher up the pitch and I don’t need to worry so much about what is behind me because I’ve got the three centre-backs.

“We have had a good pre-season. When you play the likes of Aston Villa and they play Grealish you get a bit of a run-around, so you get a lot of fitness - but it also gives you and insight into where you need to be fitness-wise and on the ball.

“Hopefully because we’re so used to playing such high opposition, we’ll be a level above come the first game of the season.”

Where next?

Your Club-By-Club Guide: The National League South Suddenly, things are a bit different in the Vanarama National League South.
Ammies Boss Pleased With Competition For Starting Places Salford City manager Graham Alexander says he’s been impressed with his squad’s attitude and application during pre-season but admits results only really matter when the season starts, writes Tom Scott.

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