Folkestone Invicta legend Neil Cugley accepts ambassador role after stepping down as the director of football at Cheriton Road

FOLKESTONE INVICTA chairman Josh Healey has announced that Neil Cugley has stepped down as his role of director of football but has been given ambassador status at the Isthmian League Premier Division club.

“As the club’s director of football, my initial responsibility was to help facilitate a seamless transition between the footballing aspects of the club, and the chairman and board of directors, as well as our excellent main sponsor,” said Cugley in a statement.

“Noe that the new regime have been involved for nearly six months, I no longer feel that this role is necessary or required.

“When I stepped down as manager of Folkestone Invicta, my main goal was to secure future investment to enable the club to move forward.

“After several meetings with Josh Healey, he agreed to be involved with the club at a difficult time and has since formed a strong board with collective, determined ambition for the club.

“I will continue to support the team both home and away and I’m proud that the club is moving forward in such a positive manner.

“I have been asked to be an ambassador for the club, which I am honoured to accept.  I have enjoyed many years at the club as a young supporter, player, manager and director and wish everybody involved at the club every success for the future.”

Chairman Healey paid tribute to the Cheriton Road legend, who managed the club through some tough financial times during his 26 years’ in the dug-out.

“We greatly appreciate Neil’s efforts throughout his time as director of football,” said Healey.

“Whilst my time working directly with Neil has been short, I’ve known him for many years and the dedication and loyalty he has shown to the club is to be truly admired.  He holds a very distinctive legacy here.

“I’m therefore delighted to announce Folkestone Invicta’s Wilf Armory Bar is to be renamed ‘Cugley’s Lounge’ in recognition of Neil’s unique and long-serving contribution to the club.  It’s an honour to be able to rename this area after a club legend.”

A club statement added: “Over the many years, both on and off the pitch, Neil’s contribution to Folkestone Invicta has been immeasurable.  For many years played at youth level, including two periods for the first-team and managing the club for 26 seasons to then becoming a director – it is only fitting that Neil now becomes an ambassador for the club.”

Fifteenth-placed Folkestone Invicta (19 points, five wins, four draws, eight defeats) travel to ninth-placed Canvey Island on Saturday.

Current manager Andy Drury awaits his first win, having lost to both Dulwich Hamlet (1-3) and Bognor Regis Town (0-1) after taking over from joint-managers Micheal Everitt and Roland Edge on 25 November.

The Kent coastal outfit, meanwhile, travel to Essex on a three match winless streak and are just a point above the relegation zone, which occupies Potters Bar Town (18 points from 17 games), Kingstonian (11 points from 17 games), Concord Rangers (10 points from 14 games) and Haringey Borough (eight points from 18 games).

Visit Folkestone Invicta’s website: www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk