Eastbourne Borough’s players have been given the green light to start talking about the FA Cup.

The club are preparing for their televised first round tie at home to Blackpool on Sunday (2.30pm).

They will play behind closed doors, as has been case since they returned to action in Vanarama National League south.

But they will pick up a fee of £32,500 with the match set to be shown live on BT Sport.

Borough’s division is classed as elite level so their fixtures will continue as the nation goes into a second lockdown from Thursday.

They will train on Tuesday and Thursday ahead of their tie with the mid-table League One outfit.

Borough were handed the tie last Monday and have since retained focus to pick up two good wins in the league .

Boss Danny Bloor said: “You worry about perhaps players’ minds being elsewhere.

“But, since the draw, we have won away to Hampton and at home to Welling so that has pleased me.

“Anything you do in life there is no secret, it’s all down to hard work.

“Conditions were horrific and it was pleasing the character of the boys allowed us to deal with it.

“I had banned the players taking about Blackpool until after the Welling game.

“To entertain a side with the pedigree, particularly FA Cup pedigree, of Blackpool is something we are greatly looking forward to.”

Blackpool have appointed former Albion assistant boss Colin Calderwood to their management team and won 2-1 at Burton on Saturday.

But they look set to be without Ben Woodburn, the Welsh international striker on loan from Liverpool, after he tested positive for Covid-19.

Borough’s Senior Cup tie with Hastings has been postponed to help their cup tie preparations.

They go into the week on a high after local boy Charley Kendall, on loan from QPR, scored his first senior goal at Priory Lane to break Welling’s resilience.

Greg Luer also netted as Borough extended their unbeaten run to six league and cup games.