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Boss Andy Drury has explained the appointment of his new assistant manager at Folkestone.
Ben Harding, 40, has replaced Chris Lynch as Drury’s No.2 after his departure last month. The former England C international midfielder had worked alongside Drury at Whitstable.
Drury said: “I think it’s important that you have got a No.2 you know and you’re familiar with.
“I’ve tried starting from scratch before but it doesn’t really work. You need to know the person before you work with them.
"He will be good for the boys, as well.”
Harding counts MK Dons, Aldershot, Wycombe and Northampton among his former clubs, and had an interim spell in charge of Truro City in 2018.
But the Carshalton-born has not been involved in football in recent years due to other commitments.
“I worked with him at Whitstable and we’ve always remained in contact,” said Drury. “He lives 10 minutes from me so, logistics-wise, it made sense.
“He has got good experience and a good knowledge of the game.
“He has played at a good level, which is important. He had just been unable to commit previously but now he has been able to.
“I’m pleased to get Hards on board.”
Drury also has added to his injury-hit Isthmian Premier playing staff, bringing in winger Tyler Anderson from Isthmian South East high-fliers Beckenham after he had been scouted by Invicta’s manager and head of recruitment Steve Miller.
“I’ve watched him twice and Steve has watched him,” said Drury. “He’s a really good lad.
“He has got something we don’t really have in terms of his raw pace. I wanted another option in the final third.
“We have given him a chance and, hopefully, he can play a part in the rest of the season and we can help him to progress as well.”
Drury is confident Anderson, also formerly of Whitstable, will be able to make an impact at Step 3.
He said: “As long as you have a good attitude - which he has - that’s half the battle when you make a step up as a player.
“You just need to work hard, which I’m sure he will. Ultimately when you take people from levels below, you’re always giving them a chance.
“But we wouldn’t have signed him if we didn’t think that he had the potential.”
Harding and Anderson had been made to wait for their first Folkestone match, however, with Saturday’s home fixture against Cheshunt postponed due to an unplayable pitch.
Drury said: “I went down, just to look at the pitch on Saturday morning.
“There was surface water on it and it had just started raining when the referee came down.
"With the wind and the rain, it would not have been a great game but the pitch wasn’t playable, anyway.”
Folkestone will visit Chatham on Saturday, with Kevin Hake’s team - like Invicta - not far off the play-off positions after a slow start.
Drury said: “They’re probably similar to us, really.
“They’ve had to change a few things that didn’t really work in the summer. I watched them play against Horsham, who are one of the better sides in the league.
“I think it will be a good gauge to see where we’re at over the next few games when we play Chatham and Dartford on December 21.
"I expect both of them to be in the top-eight minimum - and I expect the same from us, as well.”
Anderson was on target in his Invicta debut while top scorer Dan Smith also scored but two second-half goals inside five minutes consigned them to a 3-2 away defeat.
Injury-hit defender Chris Sessegnon has joined Isthmian South Central outfit Leatherhead in order to build-up his fitness.