BRENTFORD'S players have every incentive to win their FA Cup fourth round replay at Hartlepool United on Saturday, because they are on a £40,000 bonus if they reach the next round in which they would visit Premiership side Southampton on February 19.

I understand that the squad shared around £25,000 for beating Luton in the last round, and could be getting £60,000 between them if they overcome Southampton. But first they have to take care of Hartlepool and earn £2,500-a-player for doing so.

Hard up Brentford, who were on the verge of going out of business two years ago until fans' group Bees United took over day-to-day control, are £7million in debt and face annual interest payments on their overdraft of £300,000. But after making around £400,000 from their cup run already, the directors are delighted they decided to give the players a slice of the proceeds.

Director John McGlashan says: "Thanks in the main to cash contributions from fans, the financial crisis has been eased. The situation is extremely encouraging compared to what it was last year and the year before.

"We appreciate what the players have done in raising so much revenue through the FA Cup and want them to be rewarded. But the bonuses for each round were agreed with the players and manager Martin Allen at the start of the season."

Allen is to demonstrate to his players the powers of positive thinking today by repeating his feat the last time they stayed at Hartlepool - stripping to his underpants and swimming across an almost freezing cold river at their training camp!

He told me: "I want to show the lads that we need have no fear of anything. But, make no mistake, we face a tough task at Hartlepool. They are unbeaten in 12 games."

The Bees boss will again have to field a below strength team despite the fact striker Isaiah Rankin returns after a one-match suspension and Stuart Nelson is back in goal.

New keeper Ademola George' Bankole, signed from Maidenhead United in midweek, made his debut in last Saturday's 1-0 league win over Milton Keynes Dons so that Nelson could be rested.

With Alan Julian leaving to join Stevenage Borough, Nelson is the only experienced keeper Bees have available for the cup. Bankole - whose arrival as player-coach has resulted in the departure from Griffin Park of part-time goalkeeping goach Phil Whitehead - is cup-tied.

So 18-year-old Josh Lennie, having joined Maidenhead United on a flexible'work experience'arrangement as part of the deal that enabled Allen to sign his former Barnet star Bankole, is recalled to the squad at Hartlepool.

Kevin O'Connor, Andy Myers, Jamie Lawrence and Alex Rhodes are all ruled out tomorrow, while Chris Hargreaves, Andy Frampton and Jay Tabb are doubtful. Tabb was unable to play for the Republic of Ireland Under 21s against Portugal on Tuesday.

But Eddie Hutchinson hopes to return after having 13 stitches in a facial wound following a clash of heads with team-mate Sam Sodje in the 0-0 draw with Hartlepool two weeks ago.

The squad to face Hartlepool should be: Nelson; Dobson, Sodje, Turner, Salako, Frampton, Hutchinson, Talbot, Hunt, Tabb, May, Burton, Rankin, Hargreaves, Harrold, Fitzgerald, Peters, Lee, Lennie.

Ben May's loan from Millwall has been extended for a further month. Allen commented: "Ben has done very well in our seven-match unbeaten run and is continuing to improve as a player."

Brentford have released recent signing Steve Claridge and the ex-Brighton striker has joined Wycombe Wanderers, with whom he was on loan after failing to gain a place in his two months at Griffin Park.

Allen is not retaining scholars James Morrison, Sean Hillier, Aaron Steele and Scott Weight. But Ryan Peters will be signed as a professional in the summer, while Luke Muldowney, Jamie Palmer and Josh Lennie have been told that their positions will be reviewed at the end of the season.

George Moleski and Clark Masters have been informed that Brentford will be taking up the third year option on their scholarships.