Mike Flynn has told Newport County chairman Gavin Foxall to forget the money and feel the glory of another FA Cup run.
The County manager earned his club a £1m windfall last season with a giant-killing adventure that included a victory over Leeds United, a draw at home with Tottenham, and eventual defeat to the Premier League giants in the replay at Wembley.
The cash boost proved a life-saver for a club that would otherwise have lost £350,000 for the year and was equally transformative in terms of interest generated beyond the realities of League Two.
But as Flynn plots another Rodney Parade day to savour in Sunday’s third round tie at home to Leicester City, he insists the possible cash windfall from another replay is not on his mind – even if it’s on Foxall’s.
“The chairman might want a replay, but I don’t care what he wants – I want to win,” said Flynn.
“I’ve got too many injuries to clock up another game. I want to get the job done and get another name in the hat.
“It’s a huge game on Sunday, but it’s a free hit. No-one is expecting us to win, but then no-one expected us to get anything against Leeds or Spurs last season.
“Hopefully, the boys can go out there and show what they can do, because on their day they are very capable of raising their levels.
“We are on telly because people there is a chance of an upset. I believe if we play to the best of our abilities and Leicester have an off day, then there could be an upset.”
After a promising start in their league campaign, County have slipped off the pace in recent weeks but are still only six points adrift of the play-offs in 12th place.
Leicester are seventh in the Premier League, yet the club’s supporters have been critical of their manager Claude Puel – a factor which may sway the Frenchman towards picking a strong side for the visit to Rodney Parade.
“You can’t keep everybody happy but they are seventh in the Premier League, behind the big six. I think they are having a great season,” added Flynn.
“But that’s the nature of the beast these days. It’s like us. There are some people who will never be happy. We have stopped the club going out of existence, moved it on leaps and bounds, and us getting to the third round again is no fluke.
“We are ready to kick on again. Last year’s Cup run helped massively to bring in finances and to rejuvenate the club for the supporters and the community.
“There was a lost generation of supporters who we have brought back and we’ve also gained some new recruits among the support as well.”
Puel must decide whether or not to include Leicester’s in-form former England striker Jamie Vardy, a choice Flynn hopes will work in his favour.
The former Exiles midfielder believes Vardy’s background in the lower leagues with clubs such as Fleetwood means he would feel perfectly at home at a venue such as Rodney Parade.
“He’s a very talented footballer. He’s come through the lower leagues so he knows what it’s like to play at somewhere like Rodney Parade.
“He is probably the one player I do want them to rest, because he will know what it’s like to come here and what to expect. He’s moved on and improved tenfold, but he knows what is required at plces like this.
“Ideally, you don’t want the opposition to have experience of the lower end stuff. You can then maybe catch them out.
“But he’s very quick – he does the 100m in about nine seconds – he’s always on the shoulder and he’s a very good finisher. You put those elements together and it’s Roy of the Rovers stuff. He’s a top striker.”
Flynn has been boosted by the news that striker Padraig Amond has opted to extend his contract with Newport for a further season.
Amond – who scored the opener in the 1-1 draw with Spurs a year ago – is set to start again on Sunday but Newport will be without midfielder Joss Labadie and the suspended Dan Butler.