Two in ahead of the curtain-raiser

9:00am Friday 8th August 2008

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KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have added two more players to their squad ahead of tomorrow’s Blue Square Premier curtain-raiser against Lewes at Aggborough (3pm).

Defender Michael Bowler and Lee Baker, a left-back from West Bromwich Albion, have both joined the club in a week that has also seen Martin Riley, Martin Brittain, Sam Foley and David McDermott pen contracts.

Bowler, a 20-year-old former Stockport player, spent pre-season with Harriers, while 19-year-old Baker has agreed to a one-month loan deal from the Premier League new boys.

Harriers assistant boss Neil Howarth said: “We have had a good couple of days with signings and are really pleased.

“Bar Lee, we have had the rest of the lads playing for the last five or six weeks. They feel part of the club and we know the quality they have.”

Blue Square South champions Lewes arrive at Aggborough following a pre-season of turmoil which has seen boss Steven King replaced by former Brighton commercial manager Kevin Keehan.

The East Sussex club’s budget has been slashed and the majority of the squad have since left and been replaced but Howarth is taking nothing for granted.

He said: “They are on a high as they have just been promoted. We saw the other year with Salisbury that teams who have just been promoted tend to start the season well.

“It’s going to be a very tough game but we have had a decent pre-season and the lads have been training well. We have done our homework on them but, ultimately, it’s about us playing well.”

Baker will hope to be part of manager Mark Yates’ plans against Lewes after putting an anterior cruciate ligament injury behind him to earn a new deal at the Hawthorns.