New Folkestone Invicta defender Kevin Lokko reveals he turned down higher-division moves in favour of move to Cheriton Road club

Kevin Lokko has revealed he turned down more lucrative higher-division offers in favour of his Folkestone summer switch.

Defender Lokko became Invicta manager Jay Saunders’ first close-season recruit.

There had been plenty of social media suggestions the 29-year-old had agreed to sign for Invicta for financial reasons.

But Lokko said: “I laughed because I saw some of the comments about me signing for Folkestone and a lot of it was about money - but I got offered a lot of money to go to National League South, a lot more money than Folkestone had offered.

“But I dropped down to the Isthmian League because I want to be part of a team that does win something and I need to be part-time, too.

“So, I could have easily gone to a National League South side and picked up good money and been at sort of a mid-table team.

“But really and truly, at this stage of my career, I’m desperate to go and get a promotion and to win something.

“I’ll be demanding that from everyone at the club and the club will be demanding that from us as players.”

Lokko contacted Saunders about a possible switch, having decided a while back he was to leave relegated National League outfit Maidenhead.

“I’d known for a little while now I’d be leaving Maidenhead,” he said.

“I made that choice quite early in the season and so my mind was sort of looking forwards in terms of who I was going to sign for and I got in contact with Jay myself, just because I saw he went down to Folkestone, a part-time team, which is what I need due to my career.

“Jay’s someone I’ve worked under before at Maidstone.

“I had a really successful season there with him so it was a really quick conversation.

“It was very aligned on what we both wanted for the season coming up and we got