Long-serving Folkestone manager Neil Cugley has made the shock decision to step down.

Cugley, in his 26th season as the club’s boss, has been the longest-serving manager in English football since Arsene Wenger left Arsenal in 2018.

In a statement on Wednesday, the 65-year-old explained he had intended for this to be his final season at Cheriton Road but, with assistant Roland Edge and player-coach Micheal Everitt agreeing to take charge from Saturday’s FA Trophy tie against league rivals Horsham, he has instead left his managerial role with immediate effect.

Paul Morgan recently stepped down from his role as Folkestone chairman, and Cugley felt - having become involved in those off-the-field talks about how the club now moves forward - it was becoming tougher for him to concentrate on matters on the pitch.

He said: “As people may have heard, this is to be my final season as manager of Folkestone Invicta Football Club (FIFC) and, following discussions on Monday afternoon with Micheal Everitt and Roland Edge, I am pleased to say they have agreed to accept the responsibilities of running the first-team from this weekend until the end of the season.

“I hope that everyone will support them as they have been loyal employees at our club for a long time and deserve all of our support.

“As we all know, the circumstances have changed during the latter couple of weeks and I have been involved with supporting the remaining members of the board in trying to get the investment required to maintain and meet the financial shortfall we now need.

“Due to this, I feel that, with the meetings and numerous phone calls, it is difficult to concentrate on all aspects of the club and - being honest - this may have reflected on the players and disappointing results.

“Due to the current shortfall, I have agreed to forgo any wages for the rest of this season to assist the club’s financial position.”

Former striker Cugley has seen plenty of highs and lows during his time at the club which most recently included leading Invicta to the 2015/16 Isthmian South title.

They presently sit 16th in Isthmian Premier having lost 1-0 away to 10-man Carshalton on Monday and 2-0 at Kingstonian last weekend as striker Ade Yusuff was sent off.

“The club now has 24 youth teams which include five girls teams and an academy of 25 full-time students and there are major changes required in the near future to support this growth including accommodation and appropriate football training areas and pitches,” continued Cugley.

• Neil Cugley spoke in 2019 to the KM football podcast

“The club is currently debt free and I personally think it would be great for the club to have a consortium of people putting a realistic amount of money into FIFC that will also attract future directors to the board.

“I have always had good, loyal and friendly staff, players, directors and chairmen around me and that has made my years at FIFC so enjoyable.

“I also thank the supporters past and present, through the good times and bad, for their loyal support.”

Overall, he took charge of 1,299 Folkestone matches - just one shy of another milestone.

Members of the football community in Kent have hailed Cugley's longevity following the news.

Former Deal boss Tommy Sampson played with Cugley at Dartford before they did battle on opposite sides of the dug-outs.

"He's been ever so supportive since I had my stroke," Sampson said.

"Every time I've rung, he's given me his time. We're great friends.

"What he has achieved has been fantastic. It would have been lovely to have been well so I could manage against him [more often], like we did in the old days.

"He's a great fella as well. People tend to see managers on the touchline, screaming and shouting at people, but Cugs never really did it that way.

"We had a great rivalry despite being great friends.

"What he has achieved is unbelievable."

Lloyd Blackman, assistant manager of National League South Tonbridge Angels, wrote on Twitter: "What an amazing job.

"One of the nice guys in the game. All the best for the future, Cugs."

Folkestone frontman Ira Jackson, who Cugley helped earn a dream move to Grimsby in 2020, before re-signing for Folkestone ahead of this season, said: "[A] sad day for football.

"One of the best."

Lewes striker Joe Taylor, who worked with Cugley at Cheriton Road, added: "All the best Cugs - thanks for everything."

Herne Bay boss Ben Smith said: "Congratulations Cugs, for all your successes and for the legacy you have built."

Faversham vice-chairman Marc Leader said: "[An] absolute legend of the non-league game. All the best, Cugs!"

New Whitstable manager Marcel Nimani said Cugley is "a titan of non-league" while the club's fans paid their own tribute.

On Twitter, a supporters' group said: "Thank you for everything, Neil - great manager and a great person."