High stakes

ATHLETIC boss Stephen Robinson has eyes on a cash windfall from a good FA Cup run

TOMORROW'S tie against Doncaster Rovers could be the most important game Athletic have faced so far this season.

Progress through the early rounds of the FA Cup can help assist the recruitment drive early next year, Athletic manager Stephen Robinson has indicated, with the cash on offer building quickly.

An £18,000 prize is on offer for the winner of the first-round game at SportsDirect.com Park, with another £27,000 up for grabs for a win in round two.

Athletic hedged their early-season bets by adding to the squad a number of players on short-term contracts.

Those who will be assessed as surplus to requirements come January will then be replaced.

But making it further into a competition that offers £67,500 for a third-round victory and £144,000 for a televised tie at that stage will add an extra wedge to the budget.

"It can kick-start everything," said Robinson. "We haven't shouted from the rooftops about anything we were going to do this season.

"It was a case of coming in and steadying the whole thing, staying in and around the pack until we could bring people in at Christmas time and get people out - hence why we did give short-term contracts with the time scales we had to make signings.

"A cup run is massive and a good draw in the next round brings money in and gives more money for us around January time.

'ELEVATE CAREERS'

"I am aware of the importance to the fans as well. I have been involved in FA Cup success with Bournemouth and Luton against Liverpool and it can elevate careers and put you in the spotlight.

"It can also put the club in the spotlight as well, which is what we want for the right reasons."

Robinson is well-versed on Doncaster's threats, though, and accepts it won't be easy against a club Athletic lost 1-0 to in the second round two seasons ago and saw off 3-1 a year earlier, on the way to beating Nottingham Forest and Liverpool and taking Everton to a replay.

"They are a very good side and play some super football," the manager added.

"They are doing well this season and we have had them watched three times now and have looked at their last four games.

"They are definitely a threat and we take nothing for granted. There is not a lot of difference between League One and League Two at times, especially with the bottom half of League One and top half of League Two. There is very little in it.

"They are a big club who have been up there as well, so we will be well-prepared for it."