KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Mark Yates is closing in on his "four or five" main targets after receiving positive signals from a host of players.

With Jake Sedgemore, Russ Penn and Gavin Hurren already on board, Yates has now added the signatures of Luke Reynolds, Jonny Harkness and Michael McGrath.

Simon Russell has given the manager a definite `yes' and will put pen to paper when he returns from his native Hull early next week.

That leaves Michael Blackwood, who is still to make up his mind on the offer of a one-year deal, and Johnny Mullins, who is attracting interest from a string of clubs including Chester and Bury following his release from Reading.

While Yates is playing a waiting game with Mullins and Blackwood he is making good progress with a host of experienced targets.

"I started with a long list of players I might be interested in, but it included four or five main targets, of which Luke Reynolds was one," he said.

"I'm quite far down the line with a couple of them and I'm hoping to get them signed up sooner rather than later but I'm not revealing any names yet.

"We're at the stage where clubs are doing all the chasing and unless you offer players the earth they reckon they are holding out for better offers.

"But give it a few weeks and the situation will change with the players doing the chasing."

The signing of Reynolds has been a major boost for Yates who thinks, with full-time training, the former AFC Telford frontman will take the Conference by storm.

Harriers had to fight off a late bid by Chester to steal the striker from under their noses.

"I think this season will be the making of Luke Reynolds because he will benefit from the training and get into better shape," said Yates.

"After the impact he made at the end of last season I knew straight away that he was a player we should sign and I just know that he'll get us goals next season.

"Obviously there was late interest from Chester but the fact he spoke to them and still signed for us shows that he was impressed with what we have to offer."

There is a theory doing the rounds at Aggborough that Reynolds might have caught the eye of former boss Jan Molby, who is a close friend of Chester boss Mark Wright, with the League Two club also snapping up Kidderminster goalkeeping reject John Danby and showing an interest in Mullins.

Yates refused to comment on the link with his old Harriers boss, but said he was flattered that league clubs were showing an interest in his players.

"I don't know why they've started showing an interest in all of these lads but if clubs from a higher level come sniffing around it just goes to show that we're going for good players."

One such player is Mullins, who is weighing up his options after Reading's widely-expected decision to release the defender following their promotion to the Premiership.

Mullins' love affair with the Aggborough faithful and the presence of his girlfriend in Kidderminster could swing the balance in Harriers' favour, although Yates admits he is "hopeful" rather than confident of capturing the player-of-the-season.

"We're playing a bit of a waiting game with Johnny at the moment but he's told me that he'll try and make a decision and let us know as soon as possible."

Harriers still need teams to take part in their golf day at Kidderminster Golf Club on Thursday, June 8. Contact Mark Searle on 07711 597081 for details.