by Tom Howard

Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley has revealed he intends to keep his squad together for next season despite suffering relegation to Ryman League, Division 1 South.

The seasiders were unable to keep their survival hopes alive last Saturday as a 2-0 defeat at Kingstonian ensured their fate.

Cugley (pictured) admitted his side’s lack of cutting edge in the final third ultimately cost them this season but insists he plans to continue at the helm and build with his current squad next term.

He said: "Building this squad was not a short-term plan and I hope we can keep plugging away with these players as I believe in them.

"We struggled in the final third and had injuries to Paul Jones and Jimmy Dryden in pre-season which hampered things."

Although disappointed to suffer relegation, Cugley says he cannot fault the effort shown from his players and is convinced they will continue to give everything for the remainder of the campaign. Invicta’s final three games in the Ryman League Premier Division begin with a trip to leaders Sutton United on Saturday.

He said: "Last Saturday was one of those games we could have won. I feel sorry for the players because they have given everything this season but the table doesn’t lie.

"I can’t knock the players’ efforts. It’s disappointing to go down but people have to remember that it was only two years ago we were close to going out of existence and last season the boys eclipsed everybody’s expectations to earn promotion.

"However, I’m sure they will give everything they have until the end of the year and I hope we will be ready to fight again next season"

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