4 hours Ago By [email protected] (Thomas Reeves)
Lloyd Blackman thinks Folkestone deserve success under new manager Jay Saunders. Work is already well under way for a summer rebuild at Isthmian Premier Invicta after Saunders took over at Cheriton Road, leaving Tonbridge and bringing No.2 Blackman and coach Tom Parkinson along.
His switch sees the former Football League striker, now 41, return to Invicta after turning out for them in his playing days. Blackman had little hesitation in following Saunders. “Jay had said to myself and Parky that he felt he maybe needed a new challenge,” he explained.
“If Jay wanted me to come with him, I was always planning to do that. "He’s excellent to work with, not only as a person but, also, as a coach and as a manager. “I thoroughly enjoy working with Parky, as well, and we work hard together.
Whether it was here or another club, I would have gone with Jay. “Hopefully, we can have a successful time because the club and their supporters deserve it.” Blackman played for Folkestone in 2008 under Neil Cugley.
“It’s, obviously, a club that’s very close to me as a Folkestone lad myself,” said Blackman. “It’s a club close to my heart. "I know a lot of supporters and the other people there.
Whenever I’ve had time off, I’ve always popped down to Folkestone. “From that side of it, it’s been brilliant, coming in at the back-end of the season, seeing how the club operates on a match-day, so we don’t need to do that at the start of next season.” Saunders wasted little time in telling his current crop at 12th-placed Invicta whether they have a future after last weekend’s 2-1 victory at fourth-placed Cray Valley.
Blackman said: “There’s going to be changes. “I think the gaffer has made that clear with the comments he has made. That happens every pre-season.
” Goals from 19-goal top scorer Dan Smith and midfielder Matthias Fanimo led Saunders’ side to their season-ending victory despite former Folkestone forward Andre Coker getting a stoppage-time consolation. Smith won three of Folkestone’s end-of-season awards. He took home supporters’ player-of-the-year and goal-of-the-season for his second strike in the derby win at Dover, as well as the top goalscorer.
Young player-of-the-year went to left-back Frankie Morgan while players’ player-of-the-year was handed to midfielder Amadou Kassarate, an early-season arrival, as Neil Morris was presented with his supporter-of-the-year gong after Easter Monday’s 2-1 home win following Lewes. Captain Ian Gayle and Morgan lead a 10-strong contingent to have been released by Folkestone this week. Defenders Nathan Green, Gavin Hoyte and Marvel Ekpiteta, midfielders Sam Blackman and Joe Turner, as well as forwards Fanimo, Evans Kouassi and Khale Da Costa, will also move to pastures new.
Striker Smith, Kennedy, defenders Miquel Scarlett and Joel Odeniran remain in talks with the club, alongside midfielder Kassarate and youth-team product midfielder Brad Walledge. No.1 Jonny Henly, midfielders Jack Jebb and Dean Rance, and striker Ade Yusuff remain on club contracts.
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