Exeter City ask Man City for larger share of FA Cup gate receipts amid financial pressure

Exeter City Supporters’ Trust has asked Manchester City to consider giving the Grecians a larger share of gate receipts from this weekend’s FA Cup third-round tie, as the supporter-owned club continues to face financial pressures.

Exeter City travel to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to face the Premier League champions, with the match expected to generate between £250,000 and £400,000 for the League One side under current FA Cup revenue-sharing rules.

Under Football Association regulations, gate receipts are split equally at 45 per cent for each club after certain hosting costs, with the remaining 10 per cent retained by the FA. 

However, the Supporters’ Trust has written to Manchester City asking whether they would consider voluntarily transferring a portion of their share to Exeter.

In a statement issued ahead of the match, the Trust said such a gesture would “have a tangible impact on [Exeter City’s] finances” and would represent “a strong statement of solidarity with sustainable, fan-owned football”.

Exeter City is one of a small number of professional clubs in England owned by its supporters. 

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The Trust has held a majority shareholding since 2003, when it helped save the club from near-liquidation. Since then, the club has operated without a wealthy owner, relying on careful financial management, supporter loans and community backing.

The Trust said competing in League One as a fan-owned club brings “unique challenges”, particularly amid rising costs across the game. 

This season has also been affected by a fire at St James Park in November, which caused more than £100,000 of damage and led to the postponement of a league fixture.

For Exeter, the FA Cup represents a rare opportunity to generate additional income. However, changes to the competition mean replays have been scrapped from the first round onwards, removing the possibility of a second payday if matches end in a draw. 

Last season, Exeter narrowly missed out on a lucrative replay after being knocked out on penalties by Nottingham Forest in the fourth round.

The Trust also noted that the tie against Manchester City was not selected for television coverage, further limiting potential revenue. 

Despite this, demand from supporters has been strong, with tickets selling out quickly and nearly 8,000 Exeter fans expected to travel to Manchester.

Trust chairman Pete Ferlie said the request was intended to highlight the wider financial pressures facing smaller, supporter-owned clubs.

“We just wanted to flag to the football world how smaller clubs can be penalised in the FA Cup now,” he told BBC Radio Devon.

“Money is tight at the moment, but we have worked our way through that. There are actions and plans being put in place to put the situation back on a more even keel.

“This extra money from the FA Cup helps, of course it does, but we would like to see a little bit more to really make sure that the summer is easier than it could be.”

The Trust has already provided more than £600,000 in additional loans this season after an overspend last year left the club with significant debts.

Exeter City Football Club said the focus remained on the sporting occasion, while acknowledging the financial realities facing the club.

Clive Harrison, General Manager of Exeter City FC, said: “This is a fantastic footballing occasion and an incredible opportunity for Exeter City players, staff and supporters as we test ourselves against one of the best teams in Europe.

“Gary and the team have earned this fantastic tie. It is an incredible opportunity to showcase both the Club and the City on a national platform, on what will be a truly memorable occasion, and we’re proud to be doing that.

“Although this tie will generate valuable additional income, for which we are grateful, it represents a relatively small proportion of the club’s overall operating costs. We continue to explore all of the options available to us to ensure the club is sustainable going forward.”

The request has drawn comparisons with a moment in Exeter City’s history in 2005, when Manchester United handed over their full share of gate receipts following a 0–0 FA Cup draw at Old Trafford, at a time when Exeter were a non-league club in severe financial difficulty.

Manchester City have not publicly responded to the request.