Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says the club's fans must not get carried away with the money the Grecians will earn from the FA Cup.
Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says the club's fans must not get carried away with the money the Grecians will earn from the FA Cup.
City have been drawn away at Manchester City in the third round next month.
The extra cash comes as a huge boost to the League One club, who have suffered financial struggles this season.
"I had my mates texting me saying 'it would be worth millions'. Straightaway I knew it wouldn't be that," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.
"I was at their game last night in the Carabao Cup where it was pretty much a full house and I think the ticket prices were similar.
"It's great that they've made the ticket prices reasonable and should hopefully fill out the stadium, but it's not going to be the millions that we expect.
"It'll be a nice bonus, and I think we should look at this as a great football experience, a great occasion for the players, for the supporters, to go and experience a Premier League ground and give our very best to cause one of the biggest upsets of all time if we manage to win the game."
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Exeter City Supporters' Trust, which owns the club, has lent it more than £600,000 in the past few months after an overspend last season.
Liverpool University football finance expert Kieran Maguire estimates the tie could earn City around £350,000, as the club will get 45% of the gate receipts after match costs are deducted.
With Exeter not having wealthy backers, they struggle to compete financially in the third tier.
"If you take a look at League One, where Exeter City are currently playing, the average losses are £120,000 a week," Maguire told BBC Radio Devon.
"For a club such as Exeter City, which is fan-owned, clearly Exeter can't incur that level of losses.
"Even trying to compete at League One level has been a major contributory factor to where we find the club today."
In 2005 Exeter drew 0-0 at Manchester United in the same round of the FA Cup, earning themselves a televised replay at St James Park and money that was crucial in helping bring down a £4.5m debt for the then non-league club.
With the cash on offer this time around will not be the same - the game is not being televised and there will be no replay - but Caldwell hopes fans can enjoy the occasion.
He said: "As much as the finances are going to help, they're not going to change the future of the club, so to speak.
"It is 20-odd years ago when we played Manchester United, and they at that time did change because the club was in a real huge crisis, and Manchester United gave the whole gate on that occasion, which was an incredible gesture to do that and help the club when they really needed the money.
"That really did change the future of the club, but at this moment in time to get 45%, it's going to help, but for me the occasion is going to be a great football occasion and that's what I want to focus on and the supporters and the players to focus on."
Category: General Sports