We must develop our own home grown talent, says Jenner

MARK JENNER faces some make-or-break meetings in the next few weeks, which will give us more of an indication on the future of Folkestone Invicta, writes Stephen McCartney.

Mr Jenner, who arrived at Cheriton Road as a consultant earlier in the season, issued a statement on www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk last night, ahead of the big local derby against in-form Ashford Town on Saturday.

Since the news of the club’s financial troubles came to light back in October, players have been released from their contracts and the team have been made up of local youngsters on a non-existent playing budget.

As a result, Folkestone Invicta, whose aspirations were for a quick return to the Ryman Premier League following the heartbreak of suffering relegation on the final day of last season, have slipped down the table and go into Saturday’s Homelands showdown sitting in 12^th place.

Neil Cugley’s side have picked up just two wins and four draws in the ten games since the news broke, but Mr Jenner warns of tough times ahead off the pitch.

He said: “Shortly after I became involved with the club in September I formed the view that the financial position was such that it would be difficult to reach Christmas.

“Urgent action had to be taken initially by cutting the wage bill to zero and then to look at all the other costs incurred in running the club.

“It serves no purpose to air the details in a public forum save to say that if the true position had been recognised much earlier and had a sensible playing budget been put in place in the close season a good deal of pain could have been avoided.

“Unfortunately, the club had neither a sound decision making capability nor sufficient financial information on which to base decisions to be effective.

“This has still to be properly corrected by the formation of a new board of directors and a management committee in the New Year.

“The club has to be actively led and managed out of its troubles and there will be no room for the awkward squad in that transition, everyone has to work together for the benefit of the club.

“No new directors can be appointed until we have clarity of the tax position with HMRC as that will determine quite frankly whether the club can survive or not.

“To this end I have opened a cordial dialog with the tax inspector and have a meeting for mid-January. There seems little point in implementing the various organisational changes I have in mind until we have certainty in respect of our total liabilities.”

Mr Jenner admits if the club didn’t have a blossoming youth structure then the club would have been in even more dire straights.

And he is working tirelessly to ensure the club can remain at the club’s Cheriton Road ground.

“Progress has been made with Shepway District Council in respect of our tenure of Cheriton Road, which is currently defective,” said Mr Jenner.

“A recent very constructive meeting with officials of the Council will hopefully result in a new lease being granted on acceptable terms both to the club and the Ryman League.

“We remain indebted to the Council for their forbearance to date and their continued support for the club.

“So we are still in business although somewhat in limbo until the matters above have been clarified. I would like to make a special mention of Brian Merryman and Lynn Woods, both off whom have helped us survive the last three months, and without whom the ability to maintain a competitive side would have been very difficult.

“We have many positives in the club including our very extensive youth structure which has perhaps been under utilised in the past but will now come into its own as young locally natured talent will have more chance of graduating to the first team.

“Bringing on our own talent must be the future of the club. The days of mega playing budgets are over, we must learn to adapt.

“Stripes can be encouraged to become more efficient and more profitable as the main provider of income at a time when direct sponsorship may become more difficult to attract.

“Our loyal base of support is holding up well and remains enthusiastic both home and away.

“One thing is certain, 2009 will see many changes for your club. Our challenge is to make the changes positive.”

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