FOLKESTONE Invicta manager Neil Cugley has described the signing of former Gillingham star Mark Saunders as the most crucial since the early 1980s.

The 34-year-old midfielder agreed an 18-month deal to become player-coach at the Buzzlines Stadium on Thursday after leaving Gillingham at the end of last month. He was forced to retire from the professional game after failing to fully recover from a broken leg sustained against Preston in August 2004.

Also joining the Ryman League Premier Division club as part of a restructuring of the backroom staff are another former Priestfield stalwart Mark Patterson as assistant manager and former Dover Athletic boss Richard Langley as chief scout.

On Saunders's arrival, Cugley said: "This is arguably the biggest signing since Damien Richardson joined the old Folkestone club in the early 1980s.

"Mark Saunders has vast experience and is still a very good player and I would like to thank the directors for giving me the backing to go out and sign him."

The transfer marks a significant coup for Cugley after the recent departures of player-coach Scott Lindsey and record goalscorer James Dryden, whose moved to local rivals Dover shocked fans.

Saunders lives in Ashford and his location and desire to take up coaching responsibilities were key factors in his decision to choose Invicta ahead of a host of other interested clubs, including Gravesend & Northfleet, Welling United, Stevenage Borough and Aldershot.

He operated in every position for the Gills, including goalkeeper when Vince Bartram was once sent off, but is best-known as a tough tackling, box-to-box midfielder.

He became a crowd favourite at Priestfield and made 207 appearances for the club, scoring 15 league goals. His last goal for Gillingham came in the humiliating FA Cup defeat to Burscough earlier in the season.

He is expected to make his debut in Invicta's home game against Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday, January 21.

Of his other two new statt, Cugley said: "Mark Patterson is a very experienced coach and will also be a great asset to the club.

"Richard has been watching games for us recently and has done an excellent job in reporting back to us on our forthcoming opponents, a job which has been very useful for me as our location doesn’t always make it easy to carry out such tasks.

"The three new recruits come in addition to our recent three new signings of Stuart Playford (defender), Chris Wright (striker) and James Fraser (wing back/midfield), which has helped us to strengthen the depth of our squad.

"I hope that these new additions will strengthen us for the remainder of this season and put us in a position to push on and challenge for the play offs next season."

The arrival of Saunders and Patterson means the departure from the club of former England and Manchester United defender Paul Parker, who joined the club as assistant-manager earlier in the season.

Cugley added: "I am sorry to see Paul go as he has proved to be a great help to me during his time here, but his work commitments mean that he cannot always be available, which to be fair is something which I knew when we took him on.

"Paul and I remain good friends and I expect we will still see him down here for the odd game in the future."

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