Elgin City chairman Graham Tatters says this Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie at Hibernian is a timely financial boost for the League 2 side but insists City aren’t going to Leith just to make up the numbers.
The Black and Whites will start as major outsiders against Neil Lennon’s side but Tatters says everyone at the Borough Briggs club is relishing the match.
The 69-year-old, a former manager of Highland League side Lossiemouth, said: “This tie should definitely set us up nicely for next season financially. It means we can start off with a zero bank balance before we open the doors.”
It will be Elgin’s biggest payday since they met Rangers at Ibrox in the fourth round of the competition in 2012 when goals from Dean Shiels, Kevin Kyle and Kal Naismith earned the Gers a 3-0 win.
Tatters added: “You just never know. We might win the game or possibly get a replay, you’ve always got to think positive. It is fantastic to be involved in a match like this.
“Our Rangers experience was really good and Hibs are also a very well-supported side. For a team of our stature, reaching the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, where all the television money is pooled, means that we will receive additional funds and anything else from the game against Hibs is a bonus.”
Tatters is hoping his men acquit themselves better than last weekend when they went down 4-1 at Cowdenbeath.
He said: “The Hibs scouts were watching us and I would imagine they went home full of confidence. But this is a one off cup-tie and everybody is ready for it.
“I would like to think that we will be able to put up a reasonable performance at Easter Road to prove that League 2 isn’t as bad as everyone seems to think it is.
“When you get into this round you are hoping to draw either Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen Hearts or Hibs, all of whom have a big travelling support. Hibs have one of the biggest home supports in the Premier League.
“I just hope that our lads just all turn up on the day and put on a good show for our travelling support. So far I think we have sold around 270 tickets and we know there are a number of our fans who live down in the central belt and will just go along to the cash gate on the day.
“Hibs have been really accommodating and have given us a couple of extra seats in their directors’ box as they understand it’s a big thing for this football club to go down there and play a Premiership team at Easter Road.
“I know lots of our supporters have booked hotels in Edinburgh. A lot of them intend to make a real weekend of it. This is a rare opportunity as a draw like this doesn’t come along too often.”