Folkestone Invicta lose striker Joe Taylor to rivals Margate: I've no idea what they offered him, but he's got a young family so I'm sure that all those things were factors in him making this decision. He texted me earlier to say he was leaving

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley says he has lost the services of striker Joe Taylor, who has signed for their Bostik Premier Division rivals Margate.

Invicta had offered new and improved terms to Taylor, who scored 27 goals during season 2016-17 and 20 last season, when Cugley’s men finished in the top four.

Cugley told www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk: “"We needed to know what was going on and I'd been trying to get hold of him without success for several days now. I believe he'd been talking to a couple of clubs, but it's hardly a surprise that he's chosen to go there. 

"He lives in Thanet, spent a long time with Margate in his younger days and knows a lot of people in that area.

"I've no idea what they offered him, but he's got a young family so I'm sure that all those things were factors in him making this decision. He texted me earlier to say he was leaving.

“He's a nice lad and said some kind things about the way that he's been treated here at Folkestone, thanking both myself and Edgy (assistant manager Roland Edge) for what we'd done for him during his time with us."

On the plus side for Invicta gifted playmaker Sam Hasler and fans’ favourite Kieron McCann have committed themselves to Invicta for a further season.

Cugley, who is now the longest serving manager in England following the departures of Arsene Wenger and Tony Burman from Arsenal and Dartford respectively, can continue talks with two new faces - one a defender, the other a midfield player who can also play at the back - knowing where he stands regarding the wage budget.

Taylor joined Invicta for the first time in 2014 from Farnborough Town, re-joining in 2016 from Ramsgate. And in a total of 108 games, including 28 from the bench, he scored 47 goals including the winning goal at Thurrock which earned Folkestone their place in the play-offs.

The Cheriton Road outfit revealed that several more of the longer serving players have also accepted the new terms the club offered while, at this moment in time, only Taylor and the already released Jordan Wright will be missing when the season starts on Saturday 11 August.

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