EFL CLUBS LAND £1M CUP BOUNTY
EFL clubs are set to pocket a bumper £1m windfall in broadcast fees as the FA Cup hots up – and there could be even more money in the pipeline.
The fee for live television coverage of fifth round ties is £247,500 and a quartet of EFL clubs are guaranteed to benefit.
Championship strugglers Hull will be out to cause a big shock when they visit last year’s finalists Chelsea on Friday, February 16 (BT Sport 2 at 8pm).
The following day fellow Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday have been pencilled in for live coverage - and it could be an all-EFL tie. That, though, depends on League Two high-flyers Notts County pulling off a shock at Swansea in their fourth round replay on Tuesday.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Notts County/Swansea has been scheduled for Saturday, February 17 (12.30pm) on BT Sport 2.
On Sunday, February 18, there will definitely be EFL involvement as the winners of the replay between Championship side Millwall and League One strugglers Rochdale will host either Premier League Tottenham or League Two Newport County. That tie has been scheduled for coverage on BBC One (4pm).
The Rochdale v Millwall replay takes place on Tuesday night, with Tottenham v Newport at Wembley the following evening.
The final televised tie is one to savour as League One pacesetters Wigan host Premier League top dogs Manchester City. It’s on BBC One on Monday, February 19 (7.55pm). The match is a repeat of the 2013 final which Wigan won 1-0.
Incentive
There is also the possibility of more EFL involvement on the Saturday. Steve Cotterill’s improving Birmingham have the incentive of a home tie against Manchester United if they can overcome Premier League Huddersfield in their replay on Tuesday. The tie against Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils has been set for Saturday, February 17 (5.30pm on BT Sport 2).
The FA Cup fifth round ties not chosen for television coverage are: Leicester v Sheffield United (Fri, Feb 16, 7.45), Brighton v Coventry and West Brom v Southampton (both Sat, Feb 17, 3pm).
Notts County will trouser £72,000 from their televised replay at Swansea on Tuesday (8.05pm on BBC One) and Newport will pick up the same sum from their tie against Tottenham the next night (7.45pm on BT Sport 2).