Soccer Shorts: Slade Green appoint Longhurst

Click here for tonight’s Soccer Shorts….

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says that patience is key at this time of the year as the proverbial summer transfer merry-go-round has started and the manager will be fully involved in the forthcoming weeks, writes Tom Marchant.

Talks with last season’s squad are still taking place and Cugley said the Cheriton Road club hope to make several announcements next week.

Whilst discussions with his playing squad have been deemed positive so far, Cugley expects to see more departures from the Buzzlines Stadium than has perpahs been the norm in recent years.

“Quite possibly, for the first time in a while there will be more players in and out, more than we’ve been used to,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“I think we will see quite a different squad next season to what we finished this year with. There are a few that might leave for various reasons and they have obviously got to be replaced.

“If players do leave it will more likely be the more experienced ones so we need to bring players in with experience and the right attitude who will help bring on the young players we have here.

“We’ve got some good youngsters and we want them brought on in the right way, with the right attitude towards the club.

“It’s always good to have new faces though and to earn respect where I have to earn the respect of new players and vice versa”.

Asked if there were any particular positions he was looking to strengthen Cugley responded: “All over! We conceded too many goals last season, we certainly didn’t score enough goals and we didn’t create enough goals and that shows there is a lot of hard work to be done this summer.”

As the 2007/2008 football season draws to a close, player contracts expire, players are released by their clubs and some seek pastures new for various reasons.

“We are spreading our net as wide as we possibly can to see who wants to join the club but we do have our eye on certain players as well,” said Cugley.

“Obviously the situation is made easier when you know which players you’ve retained and as I said we hope things will start falling into place next week.

“The phone is non stop as you would expect but you have to keep plugging away and that’s one of the joys of being manager!

“There will be disappointments but at the end of it you want to bring in the players who want to come here and who want to do well.

“Some players you’re after like to leave it and wait to see whether they will get better offers, some prefer to get something signed and tied up quickly so they can go away on holiday and come back knowing where they will be playing.”

Cugley said whilst he would hope to sign “two or three” new players in the next few weeks he warned it may be the case that players don’t sign until later on.

“Well that’s what happened six years ago; one of the most successful seasons we’ve had was in the old Southern League Premier and I think we signed five players on the Thursday before the season started,” recalled Cugley.

“It’s not ideal, it’s not how I’d like it to do it but sometimes you have to be patient to get the right players in. In an ideal world I’d like to sign them all now so we can get them bedded in but sometimes you have to sit back a bit and wait to see what happens.”

Chairman Gordon Wallis said at the weekend that g a “quality” signing was imminent and the Invicta boss mentioned discussions with the player were continuing.

“We are trying to make an impact signing and we’re doing our best to sort out a deal,” said Cugley.

“You never know though and I don’t want to get my hopes up as a manager until it’s done and dusted. I think we need a good signing to lift everybody and then off we go again.”

Cugley is also keen to add to his management team and is hoping that Kevin Bremner (father of striker Leigh) who was present in the dugout in the final matches of the campaign will join up with the Seasiders at Cheriton Road.

Kevin has undoubted coaching credentials and impressively possesses the UEFA ‘A’ coaching badge.

Cugley said: “If we are to have good young players they need to be well looked after and we want a coach with a lot of want and enthusiasm and that’s what we’re hoping to get.

“Kevin is interested and has said what he wants to do the job financially and obviously I’ll be speaking to the Board and it’s another thing which is ongoing at the moment. We both need to talk again and discuss things and hopefully next week we’ll get something sorted out.”

Cugley himself was announced as the Manager for next season by Mr Wallis last weekend and he will now embark on his twelfth season with the Seasiders.

He said: “I’m very pleased they want me to stay and I think I have unfinished business in respect to what we are trying to build at the Club which I would like to continue and I am pleased the Board are going to let me carry on.

“When you see some of these young lads we’ve got and you think they will be a big part of the Club for the coming years and as the Manager that has put them in the side you want to see them develop.

“You look at people like (James) Dryden before, Micheal Everitt and Guesty (John Guest) and people like that who have come on so well and you want to continue that with the young lads we’ve got here”.

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

MAIDSTONE UNITED joint-manager Alan Walker has revealed that he’s lost two players within a week of the season ending.

Former Gillingham and Folkestone Invicta midfielder Mark Saunders has returned to his native west country, whilst former Tonbridge Angels full-back Craig Roser has retired.

“At the moment we are busy talking to lots of players who will vastly improve our squad,” Walker told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

“Mark Saunders has returned to the west country and Craig Roser is retiring in order to spend more time with his family.

“Craig has been a great servant for the club and leaves with our best wishes and although Mark was not with us for long, he had a big impact on the team and we thank him for the short time he spent with us.”

The Stones maintained their Ryman Premier League status following their 1-0 victory at Folkestone Invicta on the last day of the season, a result that condemned their Kentish rivals to relegation.

“It has been just over a week now since our win at Folkestone and for me that day was one of mixed emotions,” said Walker.

“I was elated at the final whistle and relieved but it was tinged with sadness for Folkestone as they are a great club and Neil Cugley is a friend of mine.

“I always felt confident during the match that we were going to get the win that we required even though we could not get the second goal.

“Over the years we have tended to pull results out of the fire when we have really needed to.

“However, we were hanging on at the end and I was wincing as they put us under pressure but when they missed the chance in stoppage time I knew we were going to stay up.”

Last week it was confirmed that defender Chris Smalling, 18, had joined Premier League outfit Middlesbrough.

“I am not surprised that he has signed for a Premiership team as I knew from the first time that I saw him play that he was something special,” said Walker.

“I am absolutely delighted for Chris, he is a fantastic kid and his attitude is first class. I think that Chris was probably man of the match in the majority of the games he played for us this season and we wish him well in his future career.

Although wing-back Nathan Paul scooped awards for his efforts, Walker paid tribute to Aaron Lacy.

He said: “Nathan Paul was my player of the season this year. However, if I was judging who player of the season was based on the last ten games then I would have to give it to Aaron Lacy.

“Aaron did things on the pitch recently that I did not think he was capable of doing and he has totally turned around my opinion of him.

“I am delighted for Aaron as he is loyal and he never misses training. It remains to be seen whether or not Aaron was playing above himself in the last few fixtures of the season but if he carries on performing like he has been doing then he will have a great chance of being in the team next season.”

CONTRARY to earlier news stories that Ebbsfleet United were to stage the Blue Square South Play-Off Final on Thursday (8^th May) at Stonebridge Road, the Conference has since notified the club that the venue will instead revert to it’s original destination - Stevenage Borough’s Broadhall Way.

A Statement issued by the Fleet on their website www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk explained the situation.

“The club was asked to step in last week at the last minute as there were some problems with the original venue and we were glad to be able to help out at such notice.

“However, the issues at the other ground have since been resolved and the Conference has made the decision that the game will now not, after all, take place at Stonebridge Road.”

The match is between Hampton & Richmond Borough - the side that won the Ryman Premier League last season - and Eastbourne Borough.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will, however, be covering the Football Conference Youth League Championship Play-Off between Ebbsfleet United’s PASE side and their counterparts from Thatcham Town. The Stonebridge Road clash kick’s off at 7:30pm on Wednesday night.

WILL GRAHAM, meanwhile, has alerted Kent managers of his availability.

The 21-year-old defender, who played for the reserve sides of both Margate and Dover Athletic before making it with Ramsgate’s first team last season.

However, Graham left the Rams in January due to work commitments and is now looking for a new club in time for next season.

“Basically I haven’t played for Ramsgate since January due to work commitments and have decided I wish to seek a new challenge with a different club,” Graham said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Graham revealed that he’s already been in contact with two clubs; Maidstone United (Ryman Premier) and Whitstable Town (Ryman League Division One South).

STEVE SALLIS, meanwhile is also looking for a new club, despite being the player-manager at Sussex County League outfit Haywards Heath Town.

The Eltham based, 30-year-old, missed out on promotion by two points, but lead the Sussex outfit to their best season in nine years.

However, he resigned due to “several reasons” and is looking to play again.

Sallis says that he’s played a total of 250 games in the Ryman League and around the 150 mark at county league level for the likes of Crawley Town, Barking, Romford, Grays Athletic, VCD Athletic, Maidstone United and Burgess Hill Town.

JOHN STILL has described Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler as a top professional, writes Justin Allen.

The Dagenham & Redbridge chief, who has guided his side to League Two safety, is hoping to bring his tem down to Crabble for a pre-season friendly.

And the former Maidstone United boss, who sold Hessenthaler to Watford from Dagenham in 1991 for £65,000, says that Dover’s title win this season has not surprised him one bit.

He told www.doverathletic.com:  “Hessie is just class. He is a top, top professional. I had him at Dagenham and sold him to Watford for good money back then.

“He’s still playing and about to turn 43-years-old but that doesn’t surprise me. He’s incredibly fit and a determined, enthusiastic character.”

Dover midfield star Jon Wallis played for Still at Dagenham at the end of last season, while on loan from Hereford United and is rated by the manager.

“Wallo is a good lad. He did well for us and I’m sure he is going to keep improving under Hess at Dover.”

Meanwhile, the Daggers boss has not confirmed a friendly with the Whites yet but added: “I want to get that game on because of Hessie. I’ve got a lot of time for him.”

MATT LONGHURST has been appointed Slade Green’s first team manager for the 2008/09 season.

Longhurst has been in the Green hot seat on a caretaker basis since November following the resignation of Peter Little (family commitments) and then Adam Morrish (work).

When he took over Green were bottom of the Kent League with a just one point.

Eventually under his stewardship Green amassed a total of 30 points climbed the table and if not for a last day defeat at Croydon would have secured a mid table finish.

Since taking over he has drafted in host of ex professional academy players such as Lee Barnett, Lee Craig, Joe Horlock and Lee Woodyard.

Other players to have worn the Green colours under in his short reign in the Green dugout include ex QPR Reserve team Captain Ryan Johnson and Millwall Youth team skipper Ben Payne along with Sam May brother of Millwall and Scunthorpe player Ben.

Matt whose full time job is head coach at Glen Johnson Soccer Schools has previously managed and coached youth, reserve and first teams at Dartford , Welling United and Erith Town.

He has also headed up Arsenal's soccer schools development centre and worked within their senior and junior schools and professional football.

A club statement said: "Matt prides himself on keeping up to date with the latest coaching techniques and as well as making sessions informative and progressive, he also makes them fun as he believes if you enjoy what you are doing you will learn much more."

Visit club websites:

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

www.doverathletic.com

www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc/

Got any news? Click on CONTACT US and let us know!

Players looking for new clubs please get in touch with your background, age, location, playing career, and we shall hopefully find you a new team - please include your phone number.