Champion chairman stands down

Pellatt helped helped transform the club's financial fortunes and only a few weeks ago was celebrating success on the pitch with the title and promotion to kick off in the Ryman League's top flight in August.

Associated with the club for the last decade, he was appointed chief executive at the Fullicks Stadium three years ago before stepping up to succeed former chairman Mark Jenner in August 2014.

As well as the title, Pellatt's tenure as chairman will be remembered for an emphasis on sensible housekeeping that saw the club repay the five-year Creditors’ Voluntary Agreement (CVA) brought in by a previous administration early last year.

In a statement over the weekend announcing his resignation, Pellatt told the club's fans that he wanted to spend more time with his wife and family which is spread between the UK and Australia before age got the better of him.

Invicta's outgoing chairman also backed his successor, club director Paul Morgan who runs the club's main sponsors Alltype Pumps, to be a success.

Pellatt who is pictured alongside Invicta's new chairman, said: "The last two years as chairman have made it into pretty much a full time job, and it is certainly on my mind 24 hours a day, as my long suffering wife Annie will testify.

"Eventually that takes its toll. With family in Australia and here, I now need to have the freedom to spend more time with them, and enjoy them before they are too old.

"It was important to me that when the time came to step down and hand over, I could do so in the knowledge that the club is in a better place today than at any time in my nearly ten years with Folkestone Invicta.

"On the playing side we have just won a championship and financially the club remains free of debt. The support I have received from all at the club has been tremendous, and I thank you all.

"Paul Morgan has been at the club for a season or so, and has impressed everyone with his warm engaging personality, and the way he has thrown himself wholeheartedly into the club.

"But behind the smile lurks a very sharp business brain, honed by having built his company, Alltype Pumps – our main sponsors, of course - into a highly successful business."

* Folkestone Invicta hot-shot Ian Draycott has signed a new deal with the Ryman South champions after clinching the `golden boot` for a second year running when he netted his 37th league goal on the final day of the season.

The former Bedford Town and Lewes forward, 27, scored 40 goals in all competitions and now has a total of 83 to his name in 110 appearances across two seasons with Invicta.

Images courtesy of Don Linkin

Follow us: @rymanleaguenews on Twitter | Ryman League group on Facebook