Albion have been handed a golden opportunity to cash in on an overdue FA Cup run.

The Seagulls are already on course for a £120,000 windfall.

The cash bonanza will increase to at least £425,000 should Peter Taylor guide a side through to the quarter-finals for the third season running.

Albion have the TV cameras and AXA's lucrative sponsorship to thank for the big financial boost.

Sky's live coverage of the second round clash against Rushden and Diamonds at Withdean on December 8 earns the clubs £100,000 apiece.

The Seagulls are already assured of £20,000 from AXA for beating Shrewsbury in round one.

Victory against Rushden will add another £30,000 to the kitty, then £50,000 is the carrot for winning through round three, £75,000 for round four and a further £150,000 for reaching the last eight, not to mention the probability by that stage of more TV cash.

The financial value of an FA Cup run is emphasised by Wycombe's experience in making it to the semi-finals last season, after pulling off a quarter-final upset against Taylor's Leicester.

The Seagulls' Second Division promotion rivals announced a £150,000 profit for the year to May, despite spending £385,000 on a stand extension at Adams Park and £275,000 on a new training ground.

The kick-off for the Rushden match has been brought forward to noon to accommodate the Sky cameras.

Taylor said: "Early kick-offs are not ideal, but it is the same for both teams and we have to get on with it.

"In the Cup run I had with Gillingham a couple of seasons ago we had a noon kick-off against Darlington and won, so maybe it's a lucky omen."

So too, perhaps, was the fact that Albion were drawn at home in round one. The last time that happened coincided with their last decent run in the competition.

That was in 1992-93, when Barry Lloyd's men reached the fourth round before a money-spinning 1-0 exit against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Rushden tie is Albion's next home match and it launches another three in a row in a crazily uneven fixture list.

The Seagulls kicked off a hat-trick of away matches at Swindon on Saturday, hot on the heels of three on the trot at Withdean.

Taylor said: "The only time a lot of away games together presents a problem is if you are desperate to get a result, then it can sometimes work against you.

"I am sure we are not the only team it is going to happen to. As long as the financial situation of the club means they are not desperate for a home game then it's fine."

Season-ticket holders have until Tuesday to apply for their Rushden seats.

They go on sale to away supporters scheme members and Seagulls club members from Wednesday until next Saturday, with any remaining put on general sale on Monday December 3.

Albion's Boxing Day visit to Queens Park Rangers, another noon kick-off, is all-ticket. They have been allocated around 3,500 tickets, which are available only to members of the away scheme.