FORMER Gillingham star Mark Saunders has signed for Folkestone Invicta as player-coach.

Neil Cugley has managed to beat off competition from Gravesend & Northfleet, Welling United, Stevenage Borough and Aldershot to capture the experienced midfielder, who left Priestfield at the end of last month.

Saunders, 34, was forced to retire from professional football after failing to fully recover from a broken leg sustained against Preston in August 2004.

He joined Gillingham from Plymouth in 1998 and established himself as a crowd favourite at Priestfield, making 183 appearances for the club.

He should be available for selection for Folkestone's home match against Hampton and Richmond Borough on Saturday, January 21.

Saunders's arrivial is part of a major restructuring of the backroom staff at the Buzzlines Stadium, which sees Richard Langley and Mark Patterson, previously manager and coach at Dover Athletic, appointed as chief scout and assistant manager respectively.

As part of the new arrangement, Paul Parker, the former Manchester United and England player, steps down as assistant manager as he is unable to devote the time required for the job.