PAUL Wotton admits Kidderminster Harriers tried everything in the club’s power to keep striker Kieren Donnelly following a successful loan spell at Aggborough last season.
Donnelly scored eight goals in 15 appearances for Harriers after moving to Aggborough on loan from Boston United in March towards the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
The striker scored in Kidderminster’s play-off semi-final and final victories which led to the club securing a return to the National League.
However, despite Harriers wanting to sign Donnelly on a permanent basis, the striker opted to join National League rivals Tamworth instead.
Harriers boss Wotton thought he had secured Donnelly’s services for the 2026/27 season at one point but Kidderminster ultimately missed out on signing the 25-year-old.
Wotton said: “That won’t be happening. Kieren’s decided to go into part-time football with Tamworth.
“We wish him well. Kidderminster Harriers did everything they could to keep him.
“Dean Holdsworth worked tremendously hard on it. I spoke to him a few times.
“But there’s a process and a project at Kidderminster Harriers. The club won’t ever be put at risk.
“Ultimately, people who want to be here, brilliant. If they don’t, they don’t.
“There’s no ill feeling and we move on. We tried everything we could to keep him.
“We thought we had him at one point but he’s made his decision and good luck to him.”
After missing out on the signing of Donnelly, Wotton feels Harriers still need to sign another striker and could also add in other areas of the squad.
Wotton also revealed the club are close to signing a new goalkeeper following the departure of National League North golden glove winner Christian Dibble.
Wotton added: “It’s blatantly obvious we need a goalkeeper. We’re very close.
“We could do with another centre forward and possibly another wide man.
“The nuts of the squad is really good and the signings we’ve made so far I’m really happy with.
“We’ve bought physicality, we’ve bought experience and we’ve bought players who want to be here.
“I’m really pleased with the squad. There’s work to do on it still.”
