Kevin Lokko has revealed he turned down more lucrative higher-division offers in favour of his Folkestone summer switch.

Defender Lokko became Invicta manager Jay Saunders’ first close-season recruit.

There had been plenty of social media suggestions the 29-year-old had agreed to sign for Invicta for financial reasons.

But Lokko said: “I laughed because I saw some of the comments about me signing for Folkestone and a lot of it was about money - but I got offered a lot of money to go to National League South, a lot more money than Folkestone had offered.

“But I dropped down to the Isthmian League because I want to be part of a team that does win something and I need to be part-time, too.

“So, I could have easily gone to a National League South side and picked up good money and been at sort of a mid-table team.

“But really and truly, at this stage of my career, I’m desperate to go and get a promotion and to win something.

“I’ll be demanding that from everyone at the club and the club will be demanding that from us as players.”

Lokko contacted Saunders about a possible switch, having decided a while back he was to leave relegated National League outfit Maidenhead.

“I’d known for a little while now I’d be leaving Maidenhead,” he said.

“I made that choice quite early in the season and so my mind was sort of looking forwards in terms of who I was going to sign for and I got in contact with Jay myself, just because I saw he went down to Folkestone, a part-time team, which is what I need due to my career.

“Jay’s someone I’ve worked under before at Maidstone.

“I had a really successful season there with him so it was a really quick conversation.

“It was very aligned on what we both wanted for the season coming up and we got things sorted quite quickly.”

While there was no rush for Lokko to complete his move so early, the Essex-based centre-back saw little reason to hang about.

He said: “There was no real need to get things done straight away.

"But for me, I just think, once I’m happy with my decision, I could always have waited around for weeks and been looking towards the end of May and June.

“But again, I’m at that stage in my career now that I know what I want. I could have waited to get something even closer to home or with more money, but it was just a simple decision to play for a manager that knows me, play for a club that wants to win something this season.

“So, that just made it really easy for me.”

Lokko played under Saunders at Maidstone in 2016/17, doing enough to earn a Football League switch to Stevenage.

“I’m at that stage in my career I don’t have time to waste,” he said.

“I want to be successful and I want to do that under a manager I know.

“I know how they operate as a manager and as a person. Jay’s somebody that’s a good man-manager, as well as a good tactician.”

Only No.1 Jonny Henly, midfielders Jack Jebb and Dean Rance and striker Ade Yusuff are contracted to stay at Folkestone from their 12th-placed 2024/25 finish - but Lokko has already come across many of those players.

“I’ve come across Ady at Dover,” he revealed. “Jack Jebb, I’ve probably played against him years back, I think maybe our Norwich and Arsenal days.

“I know of Dean Rance. I know he's signed on, as well.

“So, I know a lot of the lads there who are signed on and they seem to be good players for that level.

“I’m sure there’ll be a lot more incomings over the next month or two so, obviously, I’m excited to see who we bring in.”