Folkestone Invicta chairman Josh Healey hopeful of naming Andy Drury’s successor ahead of Isthmian Premier home derby against Chatham Town

Chairman Josh Healey is hopeful Folkestone will name their new boss this week.

Isthmian Premier Invicta have been without a permanent manager since Andy Drury’s dismissal this month.

While Tim Dixon had taken charge of Folkestone’s last two home games, he was unable to make the trip to Cheshunt for last weekend’s 1-0 defeat, which left coach Andy Morris and injured midfielder Dean Rance in charge - supported by Healey.

“All being well, we should have an announcement this week,” revealed Healey, ahead of Saturday’s derby visit of Chatham.

“I think we’re 99 per cent there in terms of an announcement, we’re just finalising the finer details. If that isn’t finalised, Tim Dixon will be back in for the weekend. He had work commitments last weekend.

“But we’re hopeful that we will announce something this week regarding the managerial position.”

Asked if the new person would be at the helm until the end of the season or the permanent successor to Drury, Healey replied: “It will be a long-term project.

“We realised we were not going to make the play-offs so we thought it would be better to get someone in before the end of the season. They can get to know the people around the club.

“Naturally, we have had multiple enquiries - not just to the secretary (Richard Murrill) but, also, to myself personally. I’m not sure how they got my number!

“I feel for the fans. It’s been more than two weeks and they might have felt that there would have been a decision made quicker.

“But there was a plan in place, it wasn’t a gung-ho decision. We were going to make this call.

“Hopefully, the fans will be pleased with this announcement.”

There had been speculation Healey himself had led a depleted Invicta team at Cheshunt, with just three