The prospect of a glamorous FA Cup home quarter-final with Manchester United on March 12 or 13 if Brentford win their replay with Southampton at Griffin Park on Tuesday March 1 (7.45pm) should secure the club's short term future.

Unfortunately, the replay is not among those chosen to be screened live on TV so Brentford miss out on a fee of £265,000.

But they will make £140,000 and £40,000 respectively from the two matches with Southampton and collect prize money of £120,000 if they win the replay.

A tie with Manchester United could bring the total to almost £1million from the cup run - the biggest match revenue in the club's 116-year history, wiping out a chunk of their £7million debts.

Tickets for the replay went on general sale yesterday (Thursday) after being offered to season ticket holders, Bees United members, Life Line members and those with ticket stubs from the Hartlepool fourth round game.

Southampton will receive above the 15 per cent stipulated by the FA and in the region of 2,800 seats.

Manager Martin Allen is hoping the prospect of playing Manchester United in the cup won't distract his players on Saturday when they face a vital promotion clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Griffin Park.

He said: "This is a new experience for us what with the media attention and cup fever. But I will be doing my utmost to keep our players focused on the Sheffield Wednesday match."

Chris Hargreaves is again expected to be missing through injury, but Stuart Talbot, Kevin O'Connor, Andy Frampton and Scott Fitzgerald could all be fit for consideration.