The old saying goes, if you want a job done properly, do it yourself.

Croydon FC chairman Dickson Gill is an advocate of this. He was forced to take over the managerial reins last September, when the Trams parted company with first team boss Russell Harmsworth after a disappointing start to their debut season in the Kent Football League.

Since Gill was put in charge of team affairs he has steered his young side into automatic promotion contenders.

But that's not surprising, considering Gill has a better managerial CV than most, after previous spells in charge of rivals Croydon Athletic, Dulwich Hamlet and the Crystal Palace youth team, among others.

"They are just kids who needed a father figure around to help them out." said Gill.

"They are talented boys but needed some direction and they have gone from strength to strength this season."

No kidding. Before this campaign, the Trams were perennial strugglers in the Ryman League, broke and attracting low gates.

Since Gill took over as chairman two years ago, the ship has been slowly steadied and things are on the up for the now debt-free club, both on and off the pitch.

"When I came into the club, it was in a diabolical state," he said.

"There was no relationship with the council or the local community. But we have got that now."

After a restructure of the Ryman League last season, Croydon found themselves with the option of entering the Combined Counties League, or the more testing Kent League. Always up for a challenge, Gill chose the latter.

"We wanted to go into the Kent League because it's a better standard of football," said Gill.

"But the way we have finished our season, we would have won the Combined Counties."

The Trams have been on an impressive run. If it was not for their poor start, they would certainly have given runaway leaders Whitstable Town, whom they met on Saturday, a run for their money at the top of the table.

Croydon managed a 1-1 draw with the leaders, which all but ended their championship hopes.

However, if the leagues are restructured again in the summer, the Trams could return to the Ryman League if the top two clubs from the Kent Leauge are promoted, rather than just the winners.

But how hard is it to manage a team fighting for promotion and be chairman at the same time?

"It's demanding," said Gill. But I have good family and friends around me.

"We train on Mondays and Thursdays and play on Saturday, plus sometimes in midweek.

"My wife helps me out, as do my daughter and a couple of girls at the club. It's a family club."

In order for the Trams to progress higher up the non-league football ladder, investment is needed.

Gill hopes the club's promising form and steady financial position will encourage potential backers to come forward.

"We need the local companies and local people to help us out financially. But we do not want just one person investing, that can lead to disaster," he said.

"I'm not it it for the money as I do it for free. Croydon is my local club and I want it to succeed."