Folkestone Invicta have confirmed their retained and released list.

With midfielders Dean Rance and Jack Jebb, alongside goalkeeper Jonny Henly having already agreed to join this summer, five other players in captain Ian Gayle, striker Tom Derry, defender Chris Sessegnon, forward David Smith and Academy goalkeeper Daniel Kennedy have agreed to stay.

Isthmian Premier Invicta also confirmed they remain in talks with defenders Callum Davies and Jason Fregene, as well as playmaker Eddie Allsopp, while midfielder Seidou Sanogo is exploring his options at higher-division clubs.

Midfielder Cameron Brodie and youth-team attacker Jack Nelson have been invited back for pre-season but keepers Joe Coleman and Kai McKenize-Lyle, defenders Toby Byron, Will Moses and Michael Kedman, and forwards Jordan Ababio, Louis Collins and Andre Coker have been released.

Manager Andy Drury said: “There’s five staying and there’s three or four others that we are talking to.

“There’s eight leaving, who we will need to replace, but we needed to do that.

“Some of them just need to go and play football, and there’s some that we just chose not to keep.

“But they all did a good job for us towards the back-end of the season. We wish them well.”

Drury is continuing to work hard to make more summer signings but doesn’t expect his squad to really take shape for some time yet.

“I want to get a few more by the end of the month if I can,” he said. “But I don’t think that we will get our squad sorted until the end of June.

“Players are taking their time, which is understandable. They want to make the right decision.

“It’ll probably be the end of June. We will have a few coming in on trial.

“I can’t see it being before then but we would like to get the bulk of it done early doors.”

While Folkestone first-team’s campaign ended weeks ago, the under-18s’ 2023/24 season has still not yet ended!

The Kent Youth League Premier Division side remain in the title race ahead of Sunday’s final game at Whitstable.

Drury will be prepared to give some of their talented youngsters the chance to prove their worth in pre-season.

He said: “We will have a few come in that we will have a look at in pre-season and see where they’re at.

“They might be at our level, they might be at Southern Counties East level, so we’ll have a little look and see where we can go with that.

“We’re always looking for players, especially local players, but there’s not too many around that we can bring in who will be up to our level.”

Drury also revealed Invicta had beaten off competition in order to sign Henly, who is moving from National League South side Tonbridge after more than 300 club appearances.

“Jonny is a really good goalkeeper,” he said. “We’re lucky to have him.

“He had plenty of offers in our league and the league above. But he made it clear from our early conversations that he wanted to come.

“They were really good conversations and I’m delighted to get Jonny.

“For us to get someone of his quality this early into pre-season, that’s really good for us.

“I think he will do really well for the club over the next few years.”

Folkestone have confirmed their home 2024/25 pre-season fixtures.

They will host newly-promoted Isthmian South East side Deal on Tuesday, July 23, and Margate four days later.

Invicta then will welcome National League South play-off semi-finalists Maidstone to Cheriton Road on Tuesday, July 30.

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