GORDON WALLIS admits he was surprised to be asked to take over as Folkestone Invicta chairman.

Long-serving Bob Dix stepped down at a board meeting last week. He is staying on as director and general manager.

Mr Wallis said: "I was asked if I would be prepared to stand, which came a bit of a surprise, but it was clear that I had all the board’s support, which is very important, so agreed.

"The role of chairman is very time consuming, and I was given the nod, based on my previous experience in football.

"It does hold you in good stead, and you learn from your mistakes.

"I have made some in the past and hopefully won’t repeat them here."

He says he is excited about the prospects of the Ryman League Premier Division club, on an off the field, and is seeking to build on the foundations laid by Dix in order to take the them to the next level.

Mr Wallis added: "It has terrific potential..... the debts are manageable, and the ground is in a prime position to get our new lease, and then to invest in Stripes Bar in order to get a good return for the club.

"I have no doubt the new board has made progress, but I do think that we should have devised a much more stable programme about a year ago and stuck to it.

"This is something I am hoping to do, but we have unity on the board and are all motivated to take the club forward."

He joined the board in January this year, having been a former chairman and president at Margate.

Mr Dix said: "I have been prepared to stand down for a long time, as I knew I had taken the club as far as I could.

"You don’t need to be a magician to realise something needed to be changed."

Struggling Folkestone are now into the bottom three, after six successive defeats and are at home to FA Cup giant-killers Horsham on Saturday.