There’s no time to feel sorry for themselves for Folkestone.

Crossley Lema signed for National League South Welling last week - just weeks after agreeing terms with Isthmian Premier Invicta earlier this summer.

The right-back had always made it clear to Folkestone joint-bosses Roland Edge and Micheal Everitt he wanted to test himself at the highest level possible.

And with Danny Bloor replacing Warren Feeney at Park View Road, the chance to sign for a Step 2 outfit came for Lema - unfortunately for Edge and Everitt.

Edge said: “What can you say about the lad? He’s a good player, we thought we had done well to recruit him.

“You cannot say anything bad about the lad.

“He’s a manager’s dream, really. He just wants to test himself at the higher level.

“Unfortunately for us, it happened!

“But we can’t mope. We have to get on and that’s all we are doing.

“Lots of things can change in a short space of time.

“We’re still looking to bring one or two in, and we’ve recruited a few.

“The same as most clubs, we have got a nucleus but we’re waiting on two, three or four.”

Invicta returned to training in the sunshine, with some trialists joining the new recruits - and the players the club have kept hold of - at the weekend.

“It’s really nice to be honest,” said Edge.

“Obviously, we have got a few new players in and a couple of trialists, which is always nice, but it’s always good to see some familiar faces.

“There’s a lot of work in the summer ahead of pre-season but you want to get the balls out, really.”

Among the new faces at training was player-coach Andy Drury, who has returned to the club.

Edge noted: “Mev knows him better than me. But in the brief spell we had with him before his managerial work, we saw he’s a nice guy.

“He’s hard-working and honest. He adds so many other strings to our bows.

“He’s still a good player and he’s a team player above all else.

“It’s just another addition myself and Mev can lean on.”

Folkestone’s first friendly will come around quickly, too, as they host National League South Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday.

Pre-season is a period Edge enjoys being involved in, having been beaten by Jay Saunders’ side 3-0 this time last year.

“I like every game in pre-season,” said the 44-year-old.

“I know Tonbridge start their season earlier than us and Jay, Blacky [assistant Lloyd Blackman] and Parky [Tom Parkinson, player-assistant and Academy boss] are always organised.

“Last year, their organisation from set-pieces beat us in 15 minutes! We’ve thought ‘We cannot let that happen again’.

“Pre-season is really for the fans. They love it. Everyone has been in teams who have a great pre-season and start terribly - and vice-versa.

“But we’re looking forward to it.”

Invicta will face Brightlingsea Regent, who begin their new season in Isthmian North after they suffered Isthmian Premier relegation last term, at home on Tuesday, July 11.

Sidelined defender Callum Davies has this week agreed to stay with the club for the new season.