Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley holds talks with managerless Margate
by Andrew Gidley
Neil Cugley admits he is
flattered and proud to be linked with the vacant manager’s job at
former club Margate but insists it’s business as usual at Cheriton
Road.
The 56-year-old Folkestone Invicta
boss, now in his 16th consecutive season in charge at Invicta,
emerged as an early favourite to replace Chris Kinnear after the
Thanet club’s board were granted permission to talk to him.
Cugley said: "Margate did things
100% right and I chatted to the people there earlier in the week
but apart from that, it’s business as usual for me.
"I am flattered by the approach and
proud to be linked with the job, Margate are a good club. What will
be will be but at the moment, I am just getting on with my own
thing."
Margate looked set to make a swift
appointment at one stage, following Kinnear’s return to Dover at
the weekend.
However, they had received around
50 applications by yesterday (Wednesday) and have now appointed
goalkeeper Craig Holloway as caretaker manager, working with
coaches Simon Osborn and Danny Hockton.
Invicta chairman Mark Jenner said:
"Margate asked to speak to Neil on Saturday, which they didn’t have
to do because he is not under contract.
"We don’t want to lose him because
he is the best non-league manager in Kent. He gives us stability on
and off the pitch and runs half the club bringing in a lot of
income during the close season (through commercial
activities)."
A tweet from Folkestone Invicta
yesterday (Wednesday) said Cugley would not be moving to Hartsdown
Park but Mr Jenner said it did not represent an official statement
on their behalf.
Cugley takes charge of his
650th league game in charge when Crawley Down Gatwick visit on
Saturday.
23/01/13
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