JIM Harvey admits it would break his heart to leave Chester City – but his days at the Deva Stadium could be numbered.

The Blues boss has indicated to The Chronicle that he would be interested in talking to manager-less Kidderminster Harriers if they follow up their interest in his services.

Harvey is a front-runner for the vacant post at Aggborough and few City supporters would begrudge him the chance of joining the Worcestershire side, who are scheduled to visit the Deva on New Year’s Day.

The popular Irishman faces an impossible job at crisis-stricken Chester and was not consulted by the club over the shock appointment of director of football Morell Maison on Saturday.

But despite City’s perilous plight and the fact his players have still not received their November wage packets, Harvey would find it hard to cut his ties with the club.

“I would love Chester to be settled and sorted for me to work there,” said the 51-year-old, who has been operating without a contract since taking over from Mick Wadsworth in October.

“But with the situation as it is at the moment, it makes it really difficult for me to do this job. It’s not a job at the moment. So if a job came up and somebody offered me something, then I would have to be interested in it.

“But I would stress I would love Chester to work and I would love to stay. It’s my area, I was planning to move back into the area, but I have to be aware of what there is elsewhere.”

Hereford-based Harvey held his first meeting with Chester’s new director of football Maison on Monday.

He was told of the controversial former Halesowen Town owner and manager’s surprise appointment in the hour leading up to kick-off in the Boxing Day defeat at Kidderminster.

The timing of the announcement could have had a detrimental effect on Harvey and his young side, but they produced a battling performance that belied the unenviable position they find themselves in.

“They say, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’, and that is the approach we’re taking now,” said Harvey, who welcomes back top-scorer Nick Chadwick from suspension for Friday’s home clash with Kidderminster (3pm).

“An opportunity has come the way of these young boys and they have to go out there and grab it, and see if they can learn, develop and improve as players. For all of those reasons, even though they’re under extreme pressure financially, they will do their best for the supporters.”

Maison confirmed after Saturday’s game that he will not be investing in Chester. He did add, however, that he was working on bringing in “potential investment”.

Maison enjoyed a successful spell in charge of Kettering Town, working alongside director of football Ron Atkinson, before resurfacing at Halesowen, where he was banned from football for three months after a post-match altercation with one of his own players.

Chester’s match at home to Barrow on Monday was postponed because of a frozen pitch.