Back to the future (3)

Who's next?
By KJ
February 26 2004

Harriers today announced the return of another old boy, with Mark Yates returning from Cheltenham, becoming the 3rd "re signing" of recent weeks.This may prove unpopular with some, but as long as we stay up then so be it

The return of Yatesy

Harriers confirmed today that Mark Yates has signed for Kidder until the end of the current season. Whether this will be a popular decision or not with the Harriers faithful remains to be seen. Yates joins the increasing list of “returnees” of late joining Abdou Sall and Ina Foster, who have returned to Aggborough in recent weeks.

Mark Yates will go straight into the Harriers squad for tomorrow nights game at league leaders Doncaster Rovers, one of his former clubs. Yates, who has been given the number 23 shirt will be making his 3rd Harriers debut. He played a few games for Harriers on loan in the 92/93 season before signing properly in summer 1994. he then stayed until January 1999 when then Harriers boss Phil Mullen sold him to Cheltenham for £25,000. he then helped Cheltenham into the league and eventually to division 2, where they spent last season. He was captain for most of his spell at Whaddon Road until the recent appointment of John Ward as the Robins manager. The former Wolves assistant froze him out of the 1st team and made him available for transfer, and both player and club recently settled the contract and thus allowed him to move to Harriers.

So lets hope it proves to be a good move, who knows, but time will tell. Tomorrow is going to be very difficult against Donny, who are now top of the table. Another player who we will be seeing again tomorrow is JJ Melligan. The Harriers crowd favourite is on loan to Rovers from Wolves. It will be very difficult to get anything and a point would be most welcome, a win would be fantastic and would give us more than 3 points really in terms of confidence, but is unlikely. More later.