Sun Sports have signalled their growing ambition by applying to join the Southern Football League and become Watford's second highest ranked club in the football pyramid.

Paul Hobbs' side only won promotion to the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League last season after a stunning Division One title triumph.

But they have mounted an unlikely title challenge and closed the gap on leaders Berkhamsted to a solitary point on Saturday.

They are in the process of paying the fee to the Football Association for a grading of their Bellmount Wood Avenue ground and plans are already underway to make the necessary improvements to the seating and standing area as well as the installation of a tannoy system and turnstile.

"It's great news," said Hobbs, who enjoyed a fine Non League career as a player that peaked with a 1995 FA Cup third round tie for Aylesbury at Queens Park Rangers in 1995.

"It would be crushing to win this league and then tell the players we couldn't accept promotion, so I'm thrilled the club's ambition matches mine.

"I told the players about our plans after the game on Saturday and there was a real buzz in the dressing room. They know now they could be playing for the biggest club in the postal area outside of Watford FC."

Only one team is guaranteed promotion from the Premier Division but any restructuring of the leagues by the FA could double the number of spots available.

General manager Steven Woolner is spearheading the club's development off the field.

"These are exciting times," said Woolner. "I want us to go as high as possible. I looked in the Non League Paper on Sunday and teams in the league above us are getting between 150 and 450 people through the gate. That is where we want to be."

Sun's plans were fuelled by a 3-1 league win on Saturday over a Hadley side managed by Chelsea and Tottenham legend Micky Hazard and who featured Jernade Meade, the left back who played for Arsenal in the Champions League in December 2012.

Released in the summer by Luton after a spell at Swansea City, Meade, 21, is gaining match fitness at Hadley before a likely move abroad.

The win was Sun's fourth in succession and not only cemented their position in second place, but established them as the most prolific side in the division.

The goals of James Armstrong and Simeon Fearon have underpinned their flying start to the season.

Fearon, 29, scored for the fifth straight game on Saturday to take his tally in the league to nine while Armstrong's double increased his hot streak to seven in five games and now means the 32-year-old has scored more than 450 career goals in the South Midlands League.

"We are playing well," said Hobbs. "But there is no chance we will be getting carried away as recent back-to-back defeats against Hoddesdon and Oxhey Jets showed us.

"Berko will be the favourites and the pressure will be on them as I've heard they have a budget we can only dream of, but I've seen nothing so far this season to frighten us and what I know with this group of players is that they will give me everything, every week."

The club's Reserve team, managed by former Evergreen boss Paul Hunt, are top of Reserve Division South & East having won seven out of eight games in all competitions.