CITY'S director of communications and commercial, Ryan Sparks, is happy to see this lunchtime's FA Cup First Round game at Tonbridge Angels on TV, given the guaranteed windfall it will provide.

He also said there was a great sense of relief that "elite" football has been allowed to continue during the new national lockdown, warning that suspending the season "would be the end of League One and Two as you know it".

Back to this weekend though, and the bare facts are that City and Tonbridge will receive £32,500 each for being on television, across the BBC and BT Sport’s digital platforms.

If the Bantams win, they will pocket a further £16,972 (with the losers today still getting another £5,657).

And a place in the second round guarantees at least another £8,500.

Today's game will be the first time City have been on TV in the FA Cup since their first round replay win over Aldershot in 2015 was broadcast on BT Sport.

Asked about the dangling carrot of potentially just under £60,000 to boost the coffers if City beat Tonbridge, Sparks said: "Given where we're at (with the new lockdown), it's very fortunate that we've got this opportunity to be on TV.

"We've had great support from our fans and sponsors throughout all of this, which has prepared us for what came on Thursday.

"But this game being on TV is one of the only real opportunities for us to generate revenue at the moment, except from our fans (who have signed up to iFollow) and commercial partnerships."

It is more than just a financial prize that comes with being on TV, with Sparks saying: "It is a boost, in terms of prestige.

"Our last TV appearance (against Harrogate last month on Sky Sports) was a bit disappointing, given we don't like to lose games anyway, so this is a chance to put that right.

"But it doesn't really bother us whether we're on telly or not in that sense, because the players want to put in good performances every time they go out there."

There were fears that the game at Tonbridge might not be played given the new four-week national lockdown.

But the FA Cup is going ahead as planned this weekend, and asked whether he was relieved to see "elite" football continue through the lockdown, Sparks said: "It was the only option to carry on, so I am glad.

"Suspending the season would be the end of League One and Two as you know it, as you can't qualify for funding if you're not able to offer the basic product on the pitch."

Even with football continuing, that does not mean EFL clubs on the whole are sitting pretty.

Fleetwood's chief executive, Steve Curwood, has been in the news this week, calling on the government to help out struggling clubs.

Asked for his take on the current situation, Sparks said: "Of course some support would be welcome for the 72 Football League clubs.

"Some clubs are struggling very much now, and we'll see some who will struggle in the not too distant future.

"The powers that be know they have to come to a decision soon on how they're going to help.

"But there is a meeting next week about it, so hopefully we'll know more after that."