Former teammate Graeme Philson believes Paddy McLaughlin's recruitment off the pitch is one of the keys to Cliftonville's progress on it.
Philson played alongside the Reds boss during their time at Institute and knows the competitive juices that drive McLaughlin on.
Cliftonville missed out on the Premiership title last season by a single point, and this term they are firmly in the championship race as we approach the business end of the season.
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Former West Ham United and Coleraine defender Philson says McLaughlin's backroom team is a big factor behind the Reds' surge up the table, with former players Declan O'Hara (assistant manager) and Marty McCann (coach)helping forge a formidable bond inside the changing room.
Philson told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast: "I always knew when I played with Paddy that he was competitive and ambitious. He has gone to Cliftonville and he has brought the right people in.
"And that's the most important thing as a manager. You need good people around you.
"You don't need the most qualified, but you need good people who will come in and work for the club.
"And Paddy has done that, people like Marty McCann and past players who have all gelled well. Cliftonville have always been a close-knit club.
"It was always a tough place to go to, Solitude. They are doing really well considering a lot of those teams have gone full-time, and Cliftonville are still amongst them with a chance to win the league, and Irish Cup.
"Paddy has done a great job. He has come out of his own city to go to Belfast and make a name for himself. Sometimes going somewhere else takes the pressure off.
"They play good football. I watched them play Coleraine earlier in the season, and they are always well organised and play good football."
Like man neutrals, picking a winner in this season's title could be a shot in the dark.
The top six all stand a chance of lifting the Gibson Cup in 2023, with Cliftonville currently in pole position, albeit teams behind them holding games in hand.
"It is such an exciting league with four or five teams in with a chance of winning the title. And that's what you want," Philson added.
"That is fantastic for the league, and Cliftonville will be there or thereabouts, for the Irish Cup and league.
"I think you can never write Linfield off, and now Kyle Lafferty has arrived as well. Glentoran bring in McGinn, and Linfield think 'we have to top that'.
"I don't know, and I think it is very hard to predict. You can never write Larne off who are well-run club who play good football.
"Does experience count at this stage of the season? With Linfield being up there before/
"Anyone can win it, and I wouldn't like to be placing a wager on it."
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