Phil Brown: Kidderminster Harriers appoint ex-Hull City boss as manager

Phil Brown joins Kidderminster Harriers with the team bottom of the National League

Kidderminster Harriers have appointed former Hull City, Derby County and Southend boss Phil Brown as manager.

Brown, 64, has joined the National League's bottom side on a deal until the end of the season.

Having acknowledged that his side are in "a battle" to avoid relegation, he said it is "a challenge I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into".

Harriers sacked former boss Russ Penn on Monday following a run of four defeats in their past five games.

He will again be working with Harriers' new technical director, 55-year-old former Brentford, Wimbledon and Bolton Wanderers striker Dean Holdsworth, who was appointed in December.

The pair have twice worked together before, when Brown was assistant manager first to Colin Todd then to Sam Allardyce when Holdsworth was at Bolton, from 1997 to 2003, then again when Holdsworth was number two to Brown at Derby, from June 2005 to January 2006.

In his second job in management, Brown then led Hull to the Premier League for the first time in the club's history in 2008 during a four-year spell with the Tigers.

Russ Penn had been in charge at Aggborough since 2020

He also oversaw Southend's promotion to League One in 2015, in the first of two stays with the Shrimpers, and also had brief spells in charge at Preston, Swindon and Barrow.

"I was immediately drawn to the passion that the chairman and board of Kidderminster have for their club, and their desire to succeed," Brown told the Harriers website.

Holdsworth said Brown's arrival was "a significant appointment" which showed the club's ambition.

"Phil Brown is someone who has a proven track record of delivering against the odds when required," he said.

"With the loyal support we have had from fans so far, through a tough time, performances and results will improve and we can get smiles on faces."

Brown will take charge after Saturday's home FA Trophy fourth-round tie against Altrincham, for which Penn's former number two Jimmy O'Connor will be in charge.

Brown's first game in the dug-out is scheduled top be the following Saturday's National League fixture against Aldershot, also at Aggborough on 20 January.

Ex-boss Penn had been in charge since February 2020 and led Harriers to promotion last season.

But they have struggled this season, having won only four times in 28 league games and Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Rochdale left them seven points from safety.