Former Gillingham golden boy James Corbett has become the seventh victim of Folkestone Invicta’s cost-cutting following his release this week.

Corbett, 28, who cost Premier League Blackburn Rovers £525,000 when he moved as a teenager from Gillingham to Ewood Park in 1998, had been with Invicta for 18 months.

He had previously played for Portsmouth, Southend, Dagenham-Redbridge, Margate and Heybridge.

Manager Neil Cugley said: “Because of the financial constraints that are hitting this club, and so many others, I’ve reluctantly had to release Jim.

“I believe he’s talking to a couple of clubs in the hope of getting fixed up quickly.”

Corbett’s departure reduces the size of Cugley’s first team squad to 13, although he has no complaints.

He added: “Hopefully that will be the last of the cost-cutting.

“We’re operating with a first team squad made up largely of local lads – with the exception of Jimmy Jackson – and that’s keeping costs down to the bare minimum.”

Cugley warned: “Come January and February, I believe a good many other clubs will be forced into taking the kind of action we have.

“The financial downturn leaves them with no option.

“What’s more, I don’t believe players in general are getting a grip of the financial problems.

“They think football is immune because I still keep hearing stories of ridiculous amounts being demanded.”

Invicta face sixth-placed Worthing at Cheriton Road on Saturday with Cugley assuring supporters that the floodlights are in full working order after the postponement of last week’s game against Whyteleafe when one pylon failed.

Saturday’s match at Chipstead was postponed owing to a waterlogged spitch.

“It was frustrating because that was our second successive postponed game and we want to be playing,” added Cugley.

“The Worthing game is the first of three difficult games. They have not lost in 12 games.

“The others are against Ashford, who I watched on Saturday, and Sittingbourne.

“All three matches will tell us how far our young side have matured.”