2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Folkestone Invicta

Player Decisions

Retain

Ted Collins, Harley Earle, Kevin Lokko, Joel-Michael Odeniran, Dillon Simmons, Ben Simons, Liam Smith, Adam Lovatt, Dean Rance, Jake Hutchinson, Montel McKenzie, Joe Pigott, Ollie Black, Donnell Thomas, Brad Walledge

Release

Isaac Ogunseri, Ike Orji, Ronnie Dolan, Ryan Kingsford, Jack Jebb, Ade Yussuf, Mikey Berry, Josh Strouts

Loan End

Nathan Paul-Lavly, Sam German, Alex Woodyard

Retained Squad

New Signings

Alex Giles (Chatham Town – free)

Given that Folkestone Invicta employ a 3-5-2 formation, I would always – as a general rule of thumb for any sides that use a 3-at-the-back system – be fairly well-stocked in defensive options. For three positions, I’d always aim for six defenders. With Sam Beard only coming back from injury, I feel that extra cover in the defensive third would certainly not go amiss for The Seasiders. 

A player that I think is capable of making the step up and would suit playing in the system Folkestone Invicta play is Chatham Town’s Alex Giles. Formerly of Gillingham’s academy. Brief experience at Step Two with Aveley. Steady progress with Chatham Town at Step Three. Only 21 years of age. Definitely a bit of a project for Jay Saunders. 

I feel that Alex Giles is particularly suited to playing in a wide centre-back role. While largely a centre-back, he is equally capable as a full-back and so he has got an appreciation for defending wide spaces. A good size and so is capable of defending the aerial balls. 

Whenever I have watched Giles, I am impressed by the maturity with which he defends. Such a calm defender. Reads the game well. A lovely temperament. Fairly strong positionally, and someone that doesn’t rely on athleticism or pace in his defending, but more so his ability to anticipate where the ball will drop. You can see that he has come out of a higher level academy in the EFL as there is a calmness and composure in the way that he plays. An intelligent player that organises well. 

I believe that there is definitely value in Folkestone Invicta having a few younger options in the backline next season, and so signing a player of Alex Giles’ age profile may be a good fit for that.

Sam German (Bromley – free)

Upon winning promotion, Jay Saunders will likely be eager to retain the core of his Folkestone Invicta side going into Step Two next term. That extends to both permanent and loan players. One player who ended the campaign playing with The Seasiders and who I think is attainable – and likely a clever pickup – is youngster Sam German. 

For both parties, I feel it is a good move. It gives German a test at a higher level. Regular minutes at Step Two. Experience of the league, having also played for Salisbury and Tonbridge Angels at the level. Loan spells both of which were an incredibly useful experience for his development. And, in a playing environment he knows already. For Bromley, they’d be getting him valuable game time, a luxury he wouldn’t be afforded around the first-team. 

As they step up into the National League South, I think there will scrutiny on the mobility of the backline. German offers a younger option. Only 21 years of age. More comfortable defending large spaces and playing a high line. Fairly quick. Capable of stepping out to engage. He complements the experienced options of Kevin Lokko nicely with a fairly well-rounded skillset for a centre-back. 

They maintain strong connections with Bromley, and I think The Ravens would entertain the possibility of a return to Jay Saunders’ side in the summer on a season-long loan.

Sam Odaudu (Dartford – free)

Looking at Folkestone Invicta’s squad, one area in which I think they could do with strengthening during the summer is at left wing-back. One option that I feel that could be attainable for Jay Saunders’ side by way of the fact that signing for Invicta would be a chane or him to move up a level to that which he played his football in 2025-26 is Dartford’s Sam Odaudu. 

The system that Folkestone Invicta employ very much relies on the use of their wing-backs, and as they step up into the National League South I do feel that they could potentially add wing-backs that are quicker, stronger and better in transition to suit the physicality and step up in intensity in going from the Isthmian League to Step Two. Particularly on that left-hand side, I think that having a ‘flying’ wing-back that can get up in support of the play would be hugely beneficial in them being able to implement the 5-3-2 system to greater effect in an attacking sense. 

In terms of his profile, the full-back is an incredible athlete. A powerful running. A good engine. Quick in covering ground. His first thought when he gets the ball is to progress the ball forward through carrying from deep, getting up into the final third and getting a good delivery into the box. They don’t have that type of physical profile in their squad currently, and so the addition of Odaudu would go some way to improving them. 

While Jay Saunders will want to stabilise Folkestone Invicta in the National League South first and foremost, I think that he will quietly be looking to push into the top half of the table. If that is the case, I feel that having more powerful defensive options will be key. They will be playing against better and more athletic forward players in the National League South, and so matching the physicality is going to be hugely important. 

The youngster is still only 23 years of age despite having been a regular over the last few seasons with Dartford, and so he also provides Folkestone Invicta with some youth to the backline in what is largely experienced. He represents a nice project for Saunders as someone that they can sign on a 2 or 3-year-deal with a view to moving on to a higher division for profit. 

There is expectation that he has perhaps outgrown Dartford in terms of being ready for a move higher, and I would agree with that sentiment. While there are some reports linking him to a Football League move, I would advise him that the more sensible option is to go back to Step Two, get a full season under his belt, play 46 games, and with a view to then making the step up into the EFL or top end of the National League next summer.

Alex Woodyard (Sutton United – free)

An integral part of their success in winning the league title in 2025-26 has been deep-lying midfielder Alex Woodyard. Playing in a double-pivot at the base. A ball-winning, technician in front of the back five. The 32-year-old was let go at the end of the campaign by Sutton United, and so it wouldn’t be a surprise for Woodyard to make a return to Folkestone Invicta.

An ever present for Folkestone Invicta this term. 40+ appearances at the base of the midfield. He has been able to rediscoverhis mojo after having a spell as a bit-part figure with Sutton United, and previously Colchester United. Re-signing Woodyard will mitigate the need for wholesale re-design of the midfield unit going into 2026-27. 

His experience will be especially important as they try to acclimatise to a higher division. A previous National League winner at Lincoln City. Extensive minutes in the Football League, as recently as the 2024-25 campaign. Their success in adapting to the level will likely hinge on their ability to keep a core – of which he is a constituent part – fit and available.

Often underappreciated – or at the very least under celebrated – in the work that he does in ensuring Invicta are defensively strong out-of-possession in screening passing lanes, forcing turnovers, recycling the ball effectively, and in using his physicality to win and protect loose balls. 

While potentially not the most mobile, the job he is asked to perform within this Invicta side is such that he allows his technical competency and with a tactical intelligence to flourish.

Alfie Matthews (unattached – free)

One option that I think Folkestone Invicta should look at as a prospective signing is Alfie Matthews. Released by Dover Athletic shortly before the end of the campaign, the 24-year-old is a player that has particularly impressed me when I have seen him and I feel that he is the type of player Jay Sauners would sign. 

One of the obvious question marks with Matthews is the fact that – controversially – he has been part of the Ballers League concept, and that is one of the main reasons as to why he left Dover Athletic. However, Folkestone Invicta don’t seemingly have an issue with their players taking part given that wing-back Montel McKenzie is similarly playing in Ballers League. I think that the concept in itself – especially at Step Two – is becoming increasingly a barrier for managers, but this is something Invicta are seemingly willing to overlook. 

In terms of his profile, Matthews is a versatile forward. I feel that he is most effective when playing between the lines as a #10. Arriving onto the ball. Making runs into the box, and getting up in and around a more physical #9.

The youngster is super technical. Clean ball-striking. Deft drops of the shoulder and working that half a yard to get a shot off. I think that he is particularly dangerous when pulling wide into the half spaces, facing the goal and getting the ball out of his feet. 

In the system that Folkestone Invicta play, I can see Matthews playing as the more advanced midfielder of the 5-3-2. Given the license to play freely off the front, picking up clever pockets, and buzzing around with his energy, pressing and athleticism, I think that he can provide real value for Jay Saunders’ side as a goal-scoring attacking midfielder. He doesn’t have the frame to play centrally – I feel – as a #9, but has the underlying technical skillsets to thrive when playing slightly deeper, getting on the ball and creating. 

Matthews was instrumental when Dover Athletic were promoted out of the Isthmian League into the National League South, and has shown glimpses of that this term with a return of 4 goals and 3 assists in 22 games. Hardly the figures that are going to jump off the page as being ‘game-changing’, but over the course of 46 games I think he can get that output close towards the 10 goals and 10 assists mark. In the right set-up and with a better defensive structure around him to allow him to go and do his stuff – as he would get with Folkestone Invicta – I think that he would be a good option.

Josh Hebert (Charlton Athletic – loan)

Folkestone Invicta don’t operate with traditional wingers, with Jay Saunders operating with the use of a 5-3-2 formation. However, I think that it may well be useful for them to still add a wide player during the summer window in ensuring they’ve got the flexibility to adapt if they need to. One player I would look at is youngster Josh Hebert. 

Hebert progressed through the youth team at Dorking Wanderers, before signing a deal with Championship side Charlton Athletic earlier this season. The 18-year-old has been on the fringes of Marc White’s first-team, yet with White favouring the use of experience and the fact that their burning need to win football matches perhaps isn’t the right environment conducive to giving him the time and patience in which to develop organically. 

Based on the limited sample size that I have seen of Hebert in a Dorking Wanderers shirt, I like what I see. He has got a real willingness to get on the ball and take risks. A willingness to drive the ball through midfield, commit players and get into the box. Make things happen. A little bit off the cuff and unpolished, yet has got quick feet, skilful and good movement. 

In this 5-3-2 system that Folkestone Invicta play, I feel that his best position would be playing off of the front as a #10. He likes to operate off the left-hand side and so he provides Jay Saunders with the flexibility of going from two strikers to playing a central #9 and two #10’s and with Hebert to play wide. 

The youngster is definitely a talented player, and I think that he needs to go out and get game time next season to continue his development. At this stage of his career, I feel the National League South represents quite a sensible level at which to pitch him. There is definitely work to do in terms of his physical development, but I believe that he represents a bit of a project that could provide them with something a little bit different in their squad.

Ashley Nadesan (Sutton United – free)

The system that Folkestone Invicta plays relies on having two strikers that are capable of a) providing a physical reference in going direct b) suitably mobile to drop deeper and facilitate runners into space. Finding a prospective target that is suitably nuanced for this is quite difficult.

One option I think The Seasiders could look at and likely on the market is Ashley Nadesan. On loan at National League South side Worthing. Like Alex Woodyard, Nadesan is surplus at parent club Sutton United. 

The role he would be tasked with in this Invicta side is similar to that he played at Crawley Town in the 2020-21 campaign. Playing predominantly as one of a central pair. Fluid rotations to facilitate runners. The license to drift wide and stretch teams in the channel, or drop slightly deeper to link. The aerial outlet in going direct. This seems a strong stylistic fit to arguably Ashley Nadesan’s most productive spell in his career. 

As a profile, I think he is an attractive option. Tall. Fairly mobile. Links the play nicely. Quick. A good athlete. Powerful runner. Makes lovely out-to-in runs off the shoulder. Can provide a penalty box reference. Fairly intelligent. He would complement the existing group nicely.

In particular, I feel that Nadesan’s movement at the top end of the pitch makes him a good fit for this Folkestone Invicta. When he was at Crawley Town, he is someone that had lovely rotations with his fellow forwards. At Worthing and at Sutton United, I feel that he has been prolific wrong. Because of his size, he is put up as a reference for the side and expected to receive the ball to his chest and yet I feel his value is in movement around the box, linking the play slightly deeper in the first pass and creating room for others.

Out-of-contract with Chris Agutter’s side. Likely to depart. I think that he would represent a smart bit of business for The Seasiders. Experience of the league, and higher. Good age. Strengthens the leadership group of the side. Off the back of a good end to the 2025-26 campaign with Worthing. Facilitatory of the existing approach. A lot of requisite ticks.