Kentish Football 
We'll just have to promote from within, says cash-strapped Folkestone boss Neil Cugley
Monday 28th March 2011
MANAGER Neil Cugley says maintaining Folkestone Invicta’s Ryman Premier League status will be difficult with the loss of two key members of his squad, writes Stephen McCartney.
Midfielder Robbie Kember has used the old chestnut of work-commitments for his reasons behind his move to Carshalton Athletic, whilst striker Simon Austin teams up with Kent League leaders Hythe Town, after agreeing terms with manager Scott Porter.
Folkestone Invicta’s survival hopes were dealt a massive blow as they went down 2-1 at home to Hendon at the weekend - leaving them second-from-bottom in the table with 26 points from 34 games - eight points adrift from safety with eight games left to play.
A derby game against Hythe in the Ryman League Division One South next season seems a real possibility if Folkestone continue their present form.
“We went 1-0 up, Frankie Chappell, then we missed a penalty (Darren Smith), the keeper saved it and then Jimmy Dryden should have got another goal again, not long after that,” reflected a disappointed Cugley.
“We should have been 3-0 up but we wasn’t but they came back and it gave them a bit of a lift and they scored two well taken goals.”
It would be gut-wrenching for Folkestone Invicta to drop back down after just nine months at this level.
“At the end of the day league table’s don’t lie, do they, not at this time of the year,” admitted Cugley.
“We knew it was going to be hard and we’ve not got much, finances are very tight. We have to dig in and get on with it - there’s no plan B I’m afraid.
“We have to see if these players are good enough. They were good enough to take us up but if they’re Ryman Premier League players is difficult to say really.”
Cugley takes his side to sixteenth-placed Tooting & Mitcham United on Tuesday night, before welcoming fourth-placed Billericay Town to Cheriton Road at the weekend.
When asked whether Tooting & Mitcham is a winnable game, Cugley replied, “We said that about Hendon and Carshalton at home but we didn’t win them.
“They are winnable games but they are all quite good sides in this league. It’s a good standard, professional and wherever they are in the league they do a job and looking at it either way, there’s no pressure on them so they can enjoy it.
“What we haven’t done - and we haven’t had the quality to do all year - is win back-to-back games and that’s been the problem really.
“The goals for column (30 goals in 34 games) isn’t pretty reading but I think defensive, goalkeeper wise and midfield we’ve been quite good but the final third is where you need the quality and that’s been lacking really.”
With transfer deadline day approaching on Thursday, Cugley says he can’t afford to bring any new players in.
“Our side won’t change anyway, so we will go out and just do our best really,” he said.
Speaking about Kember’s departure, Cugley said, “I’m disappointed mainly to do with the fact they can offer him terms for next year as well as this year. When we signed him his work was situated in Kent. He’s not a local lad, he’s a Croydon based chap and now mostly his work will be in the London area so to be fair to him it’s not practical for him to continue. It’s a big loss, he’s a good lad and I’m disappointed.”
“Can we bring new players in? Not on any money, no. We’ll just have to promote from within really and just get on with it.”
When asked about his side’s chances to beat the drop, Cugley replied, “I said (we’ll need) 40 points originally, so hopefully it will be less than that needed (to stay up), so we’ll just keep plugging away and what will be, will be.
“It doesn’t help losing three home games in a row and that’s where you have to win, your games at home.
“It’s going to be hard for everybody, but to be fair to the players they’ve been excellent and I’m sure they will be until the end of the season.”
Visit Folkestone Invicta’s website: www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk
Tooting & Mitcham United v Folkestone Invicta
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 29th March 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Imperial Fields, Bishopsford Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 6BF
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd