Cugley told to maintain Folkestone's Ryman League status

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley says his only aim for the second half of the season is to keep the troubled club in the Ryman League, writes Stephen McCartney.

Ahead of Saturday’s showdown at local rivals Ashford Town, Cugley, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on Christmas Eve, faces mounting problems both on and off the pitch.

Hopes were high at the beginning of the season for a return to the Ryman Premier League at the first attempt, following the club’s cruel relegation on the final day of last season when they lost a winner-takes-all showdown at home to Maidstone United, who stayed up.

Back then, Cugley’s sole purpose was to clinch promotion back at the first attempt and he was given the tools to sign some quality players.

But most of these players have been released from their contracts after the club announced their financial problems back in October and were not able to afford to pay anyone.

Cugley has been forced to play untried local youngsters and as a result the club have picked up just two wins and four draws in their last ten games and have slipped down to 12^th place in the Ryman League Division One South table.

With 31 points from 21 games, Invicta are five points adrift of the play-off places, and 15 points clear of the relegation zone.

But realistic Cugley has ruled out the possibility to finishing in the play-off’s this season as he looks over his shoulder during the second half of the season.

“It has been very difficult to see a team break up,” he said disappointingly. “In the summer the ambition was to get Folkestone into the play-off’s and that was going on nicely and now it’s a case of trying to stay in the league.

“Everything is a case of getting the club to survive and make sure we don’t get dragged into any relegation problems.”

Cugley’s youngsters make the 32-mile round trip to play an Ashford Town side that have won their last five games and are unbeaten in nine. As a result, Steve Lovell’s side have romped up to fourth place in the table.

“I went to see them play the other day when they were the only team that played,” revealed Cugley.

“They will definitely be in the play-off positions, very experienced side and they’ve got five of my ex-players in there, so it adds a bit of spice to it.”

With goalkeeper Jamie Turner moving from Welling United to Ramsgate on loan, Cugley is vying to bring Jack Delo in from the Ryman Premier League club to fill in for the injured Charlie Mitten.

“We’re trying to get the players to have some more self belief, but I can’t moan what they’ve done for us,” said Cugley.

With consultant Mark Jenner involved in make-or-break meetings next month with the tax man, Cugley hopes the club will be in a position to finish the season - and avoid a crippling relegation back to the Kent League.

“Hopefully we will still be here,” said Cugley. “We will go with the kids, the younger players and keep plugging on and hopefully the club will keep improving.

Cugley is “pleased” with his side’s form of picking up ten points out of their last 30, and would like to continue picking up points in the second part of the season.

“As long as they keep improving that’s what we can ask. The players learnt a lot from the Worthing game.”

Cugley’s hands are tied when it comes to bringing in new players, adding: “You’re doing the best to keep the players you have got, let alone bring in any players, but you get on with it.

“Until we get things sorted out off the pitch we won’t get anything sorted out on the pitch. The original idea was to get into the play-off’s. Now I was told we don’t go down. Expectations have gone totally the opposite.

“It’s changed a lot but to be fair they’ve had a go for me. I can’t moan, they’ve given us everything and they’re improving. It’s not ideal but it’s a way it’s got to be.”

Joe Neilson (ribs) and Josh Vincent (cut head), meanwhile, face fitness tests prior to this game.

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

Visit Ashford Town’s website: www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

Ashford Town v Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 27^th December 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Homelands, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ