THE HARRIERS board have conceded that there is unlikely to be a reduction in admission prices next season - despite complaints from supporters that the cost of attending matches is too high.

At Friday's forum, chairman Barry Norgrove and directors Neil Savery and Wayne Allen refused to agree with fans who insisted cheaper tickets would lead to an increase in attendances.

Norgrove insisted that reducing the cost of admission would leave the club with a major shortfall of cash coming into the club.

"If we don't get the money that way we've got to cut back on something else," he said.

"That means we pay less into the budget and we get lesser players.

"If we reduce the prices something has got to give."

Norgrove insisted that Harriers were determined to stay full-time, but suggested the current pricing structure must be maintained to ensure they are able to pay professional players.

When informed by fans that many Conference clubs charge adults up to £5 less than Harriers to attend their games, Norgrove replied: "Yes, but you haven't got a stand like that.

"Our facilities are a lot better than other clubs, you don't realise the stadium you've got."

The board revealed that Aggborough is subject to greater policing and stewarding costs than most grounds in the division.

They also pointed out that the club needed revenue from gates to meet the increasing costs of water, electric, gas and other utilities.

Norgrove believes the main reason for Harriers' declining attendances this season is because of the small away followings that Conference clubs bring.

In the Football League, better-supported clubs like Swansea swelled the gates by up to 1,000, he pointed out.

Also at the meeting Norgrove reluctantly revealed for the first time that manager Mark Yates has been given an 18-month contract.

"Whatever we do at this club I can't see why we've got to discuss budgets and contracts and these sorts of things.

""We don't ask you what your wages are at your place, we don't ask you how long your contract is.

"It's a personal thing, but Mark's got a contract until the end of next season."