Mansfield Town & Lincoln City dream of Liverpool

Lincoln City chairman Bob Dorrian and Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox are desperately hoping they can negotiate their FA Cup replay to set up a dream FA Cup third-round tie with Liverpool.

The Stags and Imps drew their second-round tie 3-3 and replay at Field Mill on Wednesday, 12 December for the right to host the Premier League giants.

Cox said the fixture could be "one of the biggest in the club's history".

Dorrian said the tie would clear the cash-strapped Imps' debts.

Lincoln expected to be around £150,000 short for the season but their FA Cup run has already generated well over £50,000.

And facing the five-time European Cup winners and seven-time FA Cup winners would be a huge money-spinner.

Dorrian told BBC Lincolnshire: "The financial benefit of bring Liverpool here are potentially quite amazing.

"The game would probably get televised and would bring in in excess of £120,000 on its own, plus gate receipts and you are looking at the thick end of probably £200,000."

Cox, who needed a last-gasp goal to deny their Blue Square Bet Premier rivals at Sincil Bank on Saturday, added: "When the number came out it was amazing.

"I've been to the third round before [while Eastwood Town manager], but we played Kettering away which is totally the other end of the spectrum.

"It's a fantastic draw but we need to make sure win the replay before we start looking towards that game.

"For the players, supporters, the club and the town in general it would be amazing.

"There is a lot of hard work to go before we can start thinking about that. The league is still our priority and we have the replay on Tuesday.

"It's two sleeping giants that should not really be in non-league football but we are there for a reason and we have to accept that.

"If felt like we took the whole town to Lincoln on Saturday with the noise they made and if the fans can come down on Tuesday and get behind the lads hopefully we won't let them down.

"We have to be professional and I'm sure will be looking forward to the replay. And if we are lucky enough to get through then the will have a few sleepless nights.

"But there is a hell of a lot to do before then and we have to make sure our feet are planted firmly on the ground."