The building blocks for a new Croydon Athletic were laid on Monday as work began on creating a phoenix club.

About 40 people attended a meeting at Selhurst Evangelical Church where plans to form the new club were discussed and a committee made to take the matter forward.

They face a race against time though if they want to compete next season, with the deadline for applications to the league just seven weeks away.

“It went very well,” said Paul Smith, former vice chairman of Croydon Athletic, which went bust last month after running out of money.

“You are never quite sure how many people will turn up but people were very willing to come forward and offer their help.

“It was good and positive and we have agreed to form a new club.

“There is, obviously, a lot of things we have got to do between now and the end of March - when we have to apply to the league to get a place for next season.

“That is 52 days away and there is a lot to do in that time.

“But there was good enthusiasm about it on Monday and we have got a small interim committee charged with doing the work that needs doing.”

The Rams have also been supported from Denmark with a dozen members of the fans consortium Fodboldsekskabet A/S, which briefly owned Croydon Athletic last year, interested in helping.

They have also had positive discussions with Croydon Council at playing at the same venue as Croydon Athletic - the KT Stadium in Thornton Heath.

“Our intention is to play at the old stadium,” added Smith.

“We have already had preliminary meetings with the council and they do not believe there are any significant obstacles in the way.

“We are under no illusions as to the scale of the task ahead of us but this is a start.”