6thaug04

Invicta forced to cut their cloth

Following a shareholders meeting on Monday, a clear message was delivered to Isthmian League Premier Division club Folkestone Invicta that it must live within its means.

Manager Neil Cugley has taken decisive action to reduce the wage bill by releasing Dean Standen, a pre-season signing from Welling United, and Anthony Hogg, a good clubman who was in his second spell at Invicta.

There may have to be a third player released before Invicta start the Isthmian Premier season on August 14th, but if Cugley is to bring in additional players they will have to come in with a wages sponsor.

Cugley is to look at a couple of triallists again on Saturday. Jon Wallis, who is on scholarship with Gillingham, and Jamie Wood, another Gills youngster who played for Cray Wanderers last season, should both feature against Welling.

Wallis, who is also interesting Hastings United, looked useful in Invicta's line-up against Maidstone United, while Wood also appeared for Gravesend & Northfleet in July.

The build-up to the season has not been ideal but Cugley feels that his team were unfortunate with some of the goals against conceded in friendlies so far and that Invicta were better than the results suggest.

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk