Andy Drury thinks it may take a month or two before fans see the very best of Folkestone’s much-changed team upon the eve of the new season.

Drury has made a plethora of summer signings ahead of his first full campaign in charge at Cheriton Road.

Ambitious Isthmian Premier side Invicta begin the season at home to Carshalton this Saturday before an eagerly-awaited derby at Dover on Tuesday.

Boss Drury said: “We’re confident.

"We have got a good bunch. We have recruited really well in pre-season, we have got a lot of competition for places.

“We have got a good leadership group and some younger players. But it will not happen overnight.

“You might not see the best of us until September or October - that’s probably the same for most teams.

“Hopefully, we can start well, win and build on that on Tuesday.”

Even in the latter stages of pre-season, Drury has been busy in the transfer market and has brought in experienced left-back Jamie Mascoll this week, with more signings set to come before their big kick-off.

“We have just signed Jamie Mascoll,” he said, speaking prior to confirmation of the arrival of ex-Gillingham youngster Josh Chambers. “He was at Chatham and Hornchurch.

“There should be another couple in the next couple of days to take us to a 19-man or 20-man squad.

“We might loan a couple out - but it’s nice to get players minutes so that they’re ready because, if someone doesn’t perform, someone can come in and take their place.”

That news comes after winger Ellis Brown - who netted the winning goal at Wembley as Hornchurch won the FA Trophy in 2021 - and ex-Chatham midfielder Eze Ebuzoeme agreed club terms.

“Ellis is really good for this level,” noted Drury.

“He has been in some decent teams - like Hornchurch when they were in and around the play-offs. Then, he went to Cray Wanderers.

“We have got him in and Eze in. Eze became available - I’d tried to sign him last year.”

But one player who has U-turned on his decision to make a summer switch to Folkestone is Joan Luque, the Spanish winger retiring from football as he returns to his home country.

Drury said: “We sat down in the summer.

“He said his motivation was really high and he wanted to get back to his best. He said all the right stuff - and we knew what a good player he was.

“He signed but he had a few personal problems and wanted to go back to Spain. It’s a bit of a shame, but it’s freed up some money and so we have signed some other players.

“At the end of the day, if his head wasn’t quite right, he probably wouldn’t have been right for what we were looking for.”

Invicta ended their warm-up fixtures with a goalless draw at National League South side Tonbridge last weekend.

Drury reflected: “We did really well, second half.

“I thought, in the first half, they were the better team but, in the second half, we were better.

“I always wanted to finish the pre-season against teams from a higher division. We did that against Maidstone and Tonbridge.

“Over the course of both games, I don’t think you would know which team was in a lower division.”

Invicta goalkeeper Jonny Henly saved a penalty on his Longmead return, denying Trevan Robinson in the first half.

Henly had also been spot-on from 12 yards to thwart Portuguese forward Bruno Andrade during last Tuesday’s 1-0 loss at Maidstone.

“We have been really strong defensively all pre-season,” said Drury.

“We have not conceded many goals when they (Invicta’s first-choice backline) have all been out there.

“We have conceded one goal in two games against National League South sides. Maidstone will be in the top five, maybe the top three, and, if Tonbridge can keep their side fit, they will be in the top 10.

“Jonny has saved a couple of penalties, as well.”

While Invicta will hope to battle it out at the other end of the table after last season’s 16th-placed finish, Carshalton will also be eager to improve.

Peter Adeniyi’s side came 12th last term.

“Peter is a good manager for this level,” said Drury, who suggested he still needs to make decisions over who will start in three or four positions on the opening day.

“He has been in and around it for a few years. They always start well. We’re waiting on our report back about them.

“It’s always a bit of an unknown with the first game of the season. You don’t know how teams will line up with last-minute signings and stuff like that.

“But we will know how we will play and, hopefully, we can get the win.”