ALLAN TAIT, the striker who played a key role in Deal Town’s revival last season, has joined Dr Martens League Premier Division side Folkestone Invicta.

Tait, who was under contract with Deal until the end of next season, has been allowed to move to Cheriton Road for what Deal manager Simon Bryant described as a nominal fee. But the deal includes a sell-on clause under which Deal will receive 30 per cent of any transfer fee that Folkestone may receive for the 20-year-old former Tottenham youth striker in the future.

Tait, who scored 32 goals in 29 appearances for Deal last season and finished as the Kent League’s top scorer, has signed a two-year contract with Folkestone. Bryant said: “I could have got more money for Allan from one or two other clubs who were interested him. One was a Dr Martens League Eastern Division side but Allan wanted to try a higher level than that. Gravesend & Northfleet (newly-promoted to the Conference) also wanted to take him but initially only on a trial basis, and that wasn’t any good to me because I wanted to get everything done and dusted before next season.

“But the transfer also includes another clause whereby if things aren’t working out for Allan at Folkestone by the autumn, then we can have him back.”