CASH conscious York City are hoping it is a case of third time lucky for the club's coffers when the Minstermen take on Barnsley on Sunday.

Romance, history and tradition may well make the FA Cup the greatest domestic knock-out competition in the world.

But for those charged with keeping a tight grip on Bootham Crescent finances it is cold, hard cash as much as glory that has City dreaming of a second round place.

Drawing up their budget for the year, a prudent City banked on being knocked out of all the domestic cups at the first hurdle.

That meant any extended cup run could be viewed as a bonus.

Unfortunately, that canny planning has proved invaluable as the Minstermen exited both the Carling Cup and LDV Vans Trophy in the first round.

However, beating Barnsley will see City bank a windfall of £12,500 in prize money alone.

Another victory in the second round would add another £15,000 and if City could repeat their exploits of two seasons ago, when they reached the fourth round the club would bank more than £77,000 in prize money alone.

Added to that, City would reap the benefits of extra gate receipts, programme sales, merchandise spin-offs and possible lucrative television coverage.

Live coverage of a third round tie would earn City a whopping £265,000 and could safeguard the club's financial future indefinitely.

"Unfortunately, we have got it spot-on in budgeting for going out of the cup competitions in the first round," said City financial director Terry Doyle.

"It would be great if we were proved wrong on Sunday.

"Obviously, the FA Cup is about so much more but the financial incentives for a club like York City cannot be underestimated.

"They could ease our financial situation considerably and it would also be a great reward for all the hard work that went into saving the club."

Sunday's crowd is promising to be City's biggest of the season with the Minstermen hoping for a gate of between 5,000 and 6,000 with around 2,500 Barnsley supporters expected.

Unfortunately, for City, the gate receipts must be halved with the Tykes but Doyle urged home supporters to turn out in force and roar their team on into the second round.

"The incentive for us at this stage in the FA Cup is the prize money really," he explained. "But long-term, people have to realise we still need them to support us.

"The future of the club depends on people coming through the gate."

Despite finances taking priority for Doyle, the City director said he was anticipating a cracking cup-tie on Sunday.

"York City have always had a good cup tradition and it would be great if that was continued," he said.

Updated: 11:18 Friday, November 07, 2003