Neil Cugley hopes Folkestone’s grass pitch will help them attract players who don’t like 3G.

Invicta are proud of their playing surface at the Fullicks Stadium and it could be a key feature in Cugley’s transfer talks.

Forwards are top of his shopping list following the departure of Ade Yusuff to Dulwich Hamlet.

Cugley said: “I’m talking to different players and that’s an ongoing process. I’m sure there will be a couple of faces for the fans to look at in pre-season.

“This is the one time players have got the upper hand. They’re going to talk to other clubs but I think certain things help us.

“Our pitch is excellent and some people just don’t like training or playing on 3G pitches.

“This is the way forward for a lot of non-league clubs but a lot of players don’t like them so that does you put you in a different position if you’ve got a nice grass pitch.”

Cugley’s in a strong position having already agreed new deals with the majority of his squad.

Left-back Nat Blanks and midfielder Sam Hasler are the latest to commit to the Bostik Premier club for 2019/20.

“It’s going quite nicely,” Cugley said. “To get Blanksy keeps that back four together and at the end of the season, they were really good for us with Tim Roberts behind them so I’m happy with that. Blanksy’s got the worst trip of all of them.

“He works past Croydon so, especially in midweek, it’s a nightmare trip for him, going down the M20.”

Hasler missed a large chunk of the season because of illness and then got injured at the end of a loan spell with Ashford.

Cugley said: “I met him last weekend and it was nice to get him signed.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that he can get his fitness back to where he was the year before last when he got picked for the best team (in the league). He’s a quality player.

“He’s getting there but the only time we’ll really know is when he’s doing his pre-season. He’s a good lad and that’ll be his third year with us so hopefully it’ll be a good one.”

Ronnie Dolan had ankle surgery last week and Cugley will stay in touch with the midfielder.

He said: “Ron goes back in a couple of weeks’ time to see where he is and then I’ll talk to him after that.

“He did the other ankle the year before so it was exactly the same operation.

“When we played at Woking, he got caught in a tackle. There was a floating bone and a slight fracture at the time so hopefully that’ll clear up.

“To be fair he got over it last time but it’s a shame because he was playing so well at the time.”

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