Folkestone Invicta appoint fitness guru

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley has revealed that negotiations with his existing squad are now nearing completion, writes Tom Marchant.

Cugley said he is presently waiting for three players of the squad to decide whether to accept the contract terms that have been offered and there are a “couple” of players who he is yet to decide whether he wishes to retain for next season, decisions which will be made easier for the manager depending on the outcome of negotiations with a number of transfer targets.

Cugley was speaking with potential signings last night and has another meeting scheduled tonight and is meeting with two more targets on Saturday, in addition to finalising who will be the new player coach, an increasingly crucial role on the Invicta management team.

“We’re getting there but things aren’t 100% done yet so I’m still a bit weary to put them out there,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“We are very close to making signings and we’re very pleased with how negotiations are going – with the existing squad and with people we want to bring in.

“It’s looking very promising from my point of view, there should be a lot of new signings and you’re looking at a fairly new side by the time we’ve played around with things and it is an exciting time and we’re looking forward to it and we can’t wait to get back pre season.

“Last year we struggled a bit I think to get players in but this year we seem to be finding it a lot easier.

“You’re never off the phone but you don’t mind when you’re getting rewards for it. Last year we seemed to be forever on the phone and not getting very far. This year seems to have been a lot better.”

The Invicta boss also revealed he has enlisted the services of fitness instructor Lloyd Partner.

Mr Partner has developed a superb reputation as a fitness trainer and is renowned for being an excellent motivator and for his unrivalled ability to deliver results.

He worked with Martin Chandler post his recovery from a long term knee injury and Chands worked hard to regain and achieve full fitness under Lloyd’s watchful supervision.

“Lloyd is going to be doing extra training for us in the summer,” revealed Cugley. “It is for the local players to help them work on their own fitness, it’ll be used and I know the players will be looking forward to it and at the end of the day players like to be fit.

“It will do them good, especially for people like Ratty (James Everitt) who had a bit of an injury at the end of the season, he’ll want to work on the strength in his leg and I know Micheal Everitt has been working hard on his fitness for instance.

“Corbo (Jim Corbett) will be coming down as well to work on his fitness. Lloyd is obviously a very good fitness trainer and that can only help the players.

“He is a very good motivator and you don’t want to just be running them ragged for no apparent reason but they will work with him and get fitter and it won’t be long until we’re back in pre season training.

“It’ll be once a week and with people away sometimes at this time of year it has to be a little bit optional. I’m sure Lloyd will give them a decent test.”

Mr Partner spoke about his plans for the weekly session which will start next Wednesday.

He said: “We’ll basically be starting the pre season a month early and I’ll firstly be looking at the players that come along and initiating a full fitness assessment which will consist of a body fat percentage check, muscular and strength endurance and cardiovascular testing.

“Then we’ll do it again before the season kicks off and if there’s no improvement, either I’m not doing my job properly or they’ve been cheating.

“I’ll be setting individual targets because different players need different things; some may be fit but may need to build up muscular strength for instance.

“This will be a fitness regime with a structure and an aim. Group targets are fine but people can cheat. I’ve played football before and I know what happens.”

The fitness guru who has been in the industry for over a decade, establishing Partners Health + Fitness and who was a former professional himself with Championship side Colchester United, did warn, “One session a week with me won’t turn a player into superman. They’ll have to work towards their targets on their own.

“My classes will be open to them all though. Cross training is the way and so things like RPM (studio cycling) and body pump (resistance training) would certainly be beneficial.

“Next season the Division is technically not the best so you need to be fit, strong and organised. It’s not about going on 20 mile runs; no one runs more than 6 miles a game at this level so when you go out running you go for 6 miles say, and you look for improvement in the speed it takes each player. The stop watch is key because otherwise there’s no point in doing it as there’s no way of telling if you’ve improved.”

Cugley is also in discussions with another fitness trainer to work with the squad when the pre season officially begins.

“We are looking at bringing in someone else as well, obviously Lloyd will be involved but I might bring someone else in just to help on that side of things as Lloyd himself is a busy man and so I am looking to confirm with the other person in the next few days so it’s all looking good and I’m pleased with how things are starting to come together. We’ll have a new fitness regime, new players and then off we go.”

Announced yesterday along with the ticket prices which the Club have managed to maintain without increase for a FIFTH season running, midweek matches will now return to Tuesday nights. This will mean the squad will train on a Thursday instead and on a Tuesday when there isn’t a match.

“We tried the Mondays and to be fair it worked quite well, when we had a younger side. In the last year or so it didn’t work so well because we had people like Rowland Edge, Charlie Mitten, Mark Saunders who all struggled to play two games in quick succession,” explained Cugley.

Asked whether he thought it would have an impact on crowd sizes, he said: “You don’t know really but I think it is all about winning. People want to watch a winning side and it’s up to me to get a winning side out there that people want to watch.

“It doesn’t matter what day you play, if you can get a bit of quality out there, get the fans behind because you’re playing good football and winning, that’s what they want.

“There’s a lot of work to be done in the next four or five days on the playing side but I think fans will be very pleased with what comes out of it.

“It’s the most excited I’ve been about the place in a long time and it’s just a case of people being a bit patient and waiting until we get everything tied up.

“I’m sure we’ll have a good side and there are plenty of good announcements to come from Folkestone Invicta Football Club.”

Sittingbourne manager Gary Abbott, when speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  tonight, revealed that he’s missed out on signing former Chatham Town and Dover Athletic defender Matt Bourne, who has opted to sign for Folkestone Invicta - although at this present time, the Cheriton Road club deny this.

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk