Folkestone boss Neil Cugley has revealed striker Jimmy Dryden has put in a transfer request and his name has now been circulated around the Kent non-league football circuit.

Jimmy returned home from local rivals Dover Athletic in the summer after an eventful spell over the hill but the Invicta gaffer and player himself admit things have perhaps not worked out as well as first envisaged.

Cugs commented, “We had a meeting this week and Jim has asked for a transfer as he didn’t think he was up for the cause. He’ll be the first to admit he hasn’t played as well as he would’ve liked and he hasn’t got the goals we have hoped from him in recent weeks. Perhaps the situation at the Club with the number of comings and goings hasn’t helped him and we can accept his disappointment with that but he hasn’t reached the standards we know he is capable of.

“I’ve always got on well with Jim and there’s no problem between us but if people don’t want to be at the Club then that’s fair enough but we have to move on. I’m disappointed as I was hoping he’d say he wanted to really give it a go at Folkestone but he didn’t feel he could so we do what’s best for both parties. We only want players here who are 100% behind what we want to do.”

At this moment in time Jimmy is still contracted to the Club and is likely to be in the starting line up for this Saturday’s clash away at Walton & Hersham. Josh Vincent returns to the squad after failing a fitness test last weekend and Joe Neilson is also now fully fit.

Billy Swallow returned to training last night and came through unscathed and will build up his match fitness in a few reserve outings before taking his place with the first team squad.

Neil added, “There will obviously be clubs interested in him (Dryden) as he’s a goalscorer with ability and you can’t take that away from him. If you’re a manager of a Kent club and Jimmy Dryden becomes available you’re going to be interested. Maybe a new challenge further afield will do him the world of good and help him regain his focus.”