‘We have some quality in the dressing room’

New manager Jay Saunders will inherit a Folkestone squad brimming with quality. That’s the verdict of interim boss Tim Dixon after his final game in charge saw Invicta take a 2-0 lead at Dartford before being pegged back for a 2-2 draw on Saturday. Folkestone certainly showed they are good enough to compete with the division’s best sides on their day as they looked to impress Saunders, who watched the game from the stands before taking charge on Monday.

“They've got a good team going forward,” said Dixon. “For whatever reasons, it hasn't worked out this year for us. “We have some quality in the dressing room but Jay will come in and put a stamp on it, and I'm sure will get them playing to the best of their ability again.



“I didn't want the season to fizzle out. Obviously, Jay comes in now and takes over but we have a big say in the way that the league pans out. “We knew that it was about us, and we had to turn up and perform.

Things haven't been going to plan, but every lad put a really good shift in, which the club can only be very grateful for going forward. “It's hard when you're not playing for anything. You look around at any level of football, it's always the same.

“A club can get very big very quickly, but we've got to have that stability. “It's got to be here. It's no good having a one or two-year plan.

You've got to have a four or five-year plan, and the club have very much got that in mind. “Jay will put his stamp on it, and hopefully some of the players will retain their places. But that's down to them to prove themselves to Jay, and we'll go again next season.

But it'll be exciting times at Cheriton Road.” Dixon hopes Dartford go on to win the title but they put a dent in those ambitions after a first-half double by Amadou Kassarate. “A bit of mixed emotions,” admitted Dixon.

“I was hoping we were going to hang on. “I think the lads put a tremendous shift in. We've had lots of injuries, lots of changes and even in the match, we lost a couple of players who have put big shifts in.

“It's an important result for us, to go 2-0 up we always knew it was going to be difficult if they were to get one after half-time. “We knew it was going to be a bit of a siege, which it was. It was a silly penalty to give away.

“We have had a bit of fortune as wel but I thought we created a few problems for them. “I love Dartford, I love the people here. They're all good friends of mine, and I wish them all the very best.

I hope they go on to win the league.”.