For football clubs the FA Cup can be an unwelcome distraction or a lifeline. Wigan’s FA Cup success last year was worth £4m to the club in prize money and gate receipts – before bonus payments are taken into account. The subsequent Europa League run brought in a further £2 million.
Avoiding relegation last season would have been worth at least £63m if Wigan had finished bottom of the Barclays Premier League. But then they might have got relegated anyway if they had not won the cup and they have something to remember.
For football clubs the FA Cup can be an unwelcome distraction or a lifeline. Wigan’s FA Cup success last year was worth £4m to the club in prize money and gate receipts – before bonus payments are taken into account. The subsequent Europa League run brought in a further £2 million.
Avoiding relegation last season would have been worth at least £63m if Wigan had finished bottom of the Barclays Premier League. But then they might have got relegated anyway if they had not won the cup and they have something to remember.
For Macclesfield Town, a draw or a win against Sheffield Wednesday today could help them to survive for another three or four months. On the edge of Manchester, attracting the crowds has never been easy for them.
The Silkmen almost went to the wall with debts of £500,000 last summer and attempted to raise funds by offering a league or cup run-out to any member of public prepared to pay £20,000. Facing criticism, they quickly shelved the offer, apologised and soldiered on.
Despite a recent council bail-out of £285,000, they remain in dire financial straits and continue to lead a hand-to-mouth existence. Most of their players are on six-month contracts, while the poverty-stricken club can’t afford to give manager John Askey and his assistant, the former Nigeria international Efe Sodje, contracts of any kind at all. Sports drinks have been provided by the local branch of Tesco.