Manager Neil Cugley insists finances didn’t force Folkestone to sell full-back Chris Elliott to Ramsgate.

Elliott, known as Billy, joined the Rams on Friday and made his debut in their 4-2 win at Fisher in the FA Cup the following day.

His exit follows the departure of Invicta midfielder Michael Yianni back to Hythe Town earlier in the week. Elliott, like Yianni, hadn’t started for Folkestone this season.

Cugley said: "There is no way we have been forced to sell Billy but it’s good business for the club and means he can be more certain of regular first-team football.

"We’re not big payers – not too many Kent clubs at our level are – and lads like Billy and Mike Yianni want to be playing as much as they can.

"If you get a good offer for a player who’s not getting in your team, you’d be daft not to think about seriously about it.

"Billy’s a good lad and we were not forced to let him go. He phoned me to say he wasn’t sure about the move and I simply told him that he had to do what he feels is right for him at the moment."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.