City will pocket around £80,000 from the FA Cup even if they lose to Barnsley in round two.

But chairman Julian Rhodes is

hoping they can keep the ball rolling and draw a money-spinning clash with Premiership opposition.

Last week's win over Tranmere - City's first in the competition since 1999 - booked a trip to today's League One opponents on December 3.

It also guaranteed them a tidy

windfall that had not been budgeted for in pre-season.

"We don't even put a line in the

figures for the cup," said Rhodes.

"We have just assumed that we are going to get knocked out."

Rhodes is already bracing himself to pay the seven-figure loss the club are predicting for the season out of his own pocket. Any cash that can be generated via a cup run will ease that burden.

"There's at least a £1million

shortage and the main way we can eat into that is from the cup," said Rhodes.

"There is a further £24,000 prize money if you win the next round and if we could make it through and get a TV game, you are talking about £150,000.

"When we were last knocked out in the third round by West Brom, we made around £100,000. That is when the serious money can be made.

"We're all hoping to get through to at least the third round but if we don't, we will still have banked a reasonable amount."

Non-league Exeter received almost £1m in gate receipts and TV cash when they took Manchester United to a replay in January.

City's best windfall in recent years came during the Premiership

promotion season when they earned £200,000 from a defeat at Newcastle.