BELOW the gross riches of the Premier League, clubs like Swindon Town know just how important an FA Cup run can be to their long-term sustainability.

Town’s head coach Scott Lindsey says while he is “desperate” to beat Stockport County on Saturday from a competitive point of view, he is also aware just how much good another jaunt to the third round will do the County Ground club, fiscally.

With the amount of debt left to pay inside £1million for Swindon – a reduction of over £6million from when owner Clem Morfuni took control in July 2021 – even winning two games in the FA Cup this season would help to reduce that money owed by a further 10 per cent at least.

After the Football Association significantly improved prize money for this year’s competition, first-round winners receive £41,000 while second-round victors are handed £67,000.

Previewing the first-round tie at Edgeley Park, Lindsey said: “One thing I haven’t mentioned before is how important these games are to the football club’s finances.

“It helps chip away at a little bit of debt maybe by moving through the rounds. It makes a massive impact for a club like us, getting to the third round. Even £10,000 does – it’s massive.

“Football clubs at this level need that support. We get good crowds, good sponsors, we’ve got a good chairman.

“But in order for us to keep moving forward quicker, it’s nice for us to get these extra little bonuses whenever they come. It all helps go in the pot.”

So is there any added pressure from above to do well? Especially when Town are 0-4 in cup competitions this season. Lindsey insists there is not.

The Town boss explained that the League Cup and EFL Trophy were “used differently” and that he will be putting out as strong a side as possible in order to keep everyone happy on Saturday.

He said: “From within myself, these games bring a bit of extra pressure because I want to win. But I don’t feel pressure from above – I never have.

“It would just be nice for us to go through so that the club is rewarded with a few quid.

“And it’s important to me that we continue through the rounds because it adds a bit of excitement for the fans in terms of who we’re going to get in the next round – is it home or away? Then if we progress through that round, all of a sudden, the big boys come in.

“What you don’t want to do is go out with a whimper, you want to go there and put a performance in which helps you get through the tie. That’s what we plan to do.”