by Kevin Redsull

Folkestone Invicta moved 11 points clear at the top of Ryman League Division 1 South with Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory at Godalming.

But manager Neil Cugley’s satisfaction at his side’s second away win in four days was tempered by the knowledge that Invicta, once the administrative formalities have been concluded, will be docked 10 points by the league as a result of their decision to set up a Creditors Voluntary Agreement in order to clear the club’s £170,000 debts.

The decision to plump for a CVA, under which Invicta will pay off their debts in monthly instalments over a five-year period, rather than going into administration, was supported by club shareholders at their special meeting last Friday.

Cugley, himself a shareholder, said: "The CVA is the best option for us but it’s still a shame that the people who the 10-point deduction will hurt the most is the players and the supporters.

"It will also give the clubs below us a lift because all of a sudden they will be right back in the title race but we have just got to get on with it, which is what the players have been doing all season despite what’s been happening off the pitch."

Tuesday was another example of the Folkestone players’ resilience as they frustrated a Godalming outfit who enjoyed plenty of possession but who, like so many other sides before them this season, were unable to break down the best defensive unit in the division.

James Everitt (pictured) limped off with an ankle injury but Cugley is hoping that he will be fit for Saturday’s home game with Whyteleafe, which will also see the club’s new board members take their places in the stand for the first time.

The board is headed by chairman Lynn Woods and chief executive Mark Jenner, two members of the Folkestone Invicta Recovery Group, who were voted in at last Friday’s meeting.

Afterwards they issued a statement concerning the club’s future structure, saying: "The new board is committed to changing the club’s constitution and shareholding structure to commit Folkestone Invicta into the control and effective ownership of a Supporters’
Trust.

"Further information on this proposal will be circulated before the end of the current season, and an Extraordinary General Meeting will be required to approve any such changes."