REECE STYCHE says it's like being at a new club as Kidderminster Harriers look to forget about their off-field struggles of last season – and the striker is ready to prove himself to the Kiddy fans.
Late wages and flash sales of players contributed to a lower-half finish in the table and all-round doom and gloom at Aggborough.
Styche, 26, spent the second half of the season on loan in the Conference North with Andy Morrell's Tamworth, but could still feel the tension when he trained on Friday.
It's a new beginning, however, after new chairman Rod Brown took over from Ken Rae at the end of April.
Upbeat
This year, even the dreaded fitness tests on day one of pre-season didn't bring down the positive feeling as manager Gary Whild looks to build on a fresh start. And Styche says the feelgood factor is back.
“There's more honesty and openness at the club,” he said. “The new chairman came in and spoke to us on the first day of pre-season. I didn't ever see the previous chairman. We would be led on and told we would be paid, and then we wouldn't. Lads depend on that money every month.
“But it's done now, it's all in the past. You can tell the gaffer and Creights (assistant manager Mark Creighton) are a lot more upbeat because last season wasn't easy for them.
“It's like a different club. When we came in on the first Monday for fitness testing, you could tell the tension had gone.
“The manager has recruited some really good lads. Kelvin Langmead has loads of League experiences, Joe Clarke has played in playoffs and Wembley finals with Wrexham, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner played a lot of games at Luton. Their experience can only help what we've got already in the likes of Jaz Hodgkiss who, for me, is the best right-back in this league.
Incentive
“So we've got a solid spine and that's what Gary and Creights have done well. They've had the budget cut, but they've brought in players with experience of this league, which you need.”
The former Chasetown striker is keen to get back in the goals after a frustrating couple of years since snapping his cruciate ligament playing for Forest Green Rovers.
A loan move to League Two Wycombe Wanderers fell flat and he failed to show his best when he pulled on a Kiddy shirt before joining Tamworth.
“Wycombe was probably a bit too soon after my injury and last year just didn't work out as I had hoped,” Styche said.
“But that's football, I'm not going to dwell on it. I'm going to play football with a smile on my face. I did that at Tamworth, but I haven't done that since I've been at Kiddy. I'm going to make sure I really enjoy it.
“It's a big year for me. Kiddy fans didn't take to me last year and that's because they didn't see the best of me. I know I can do it; I want to prove I'm a good player.”
Styche also hopes Harriers can fly under the radar this season.
“It's a tough league and we're going to have a small squad so we've got to stick together and work our nuts off,” he added.
“I don't want another season like last year and nor do the lads. That will give us the incentive to work even harder.”
