Co-owner Terry Casey says it would be a financial game-changer should Maidstone upset Barrow in the FA Cup Second Round.

The Stones need £200,000 to replace their 3G pitch at the Gallagher Stadium and will be well over halfway there in prize money alone if they reach the Third Round for the first time since losing 1-0 at Sheffield United in 1988.

They’ve collected £59,375 for winning four ties so far and there’s £67,000 on offer this Saturday (3pm).

FA Cup runs do so much to help non-league clubs and Maidstone are no different, with every penny going towards replacing their pitch next summer.

It won’t be easy - visitors Barrow are third in League 2 - but victory would do wonders for the Stones.

“I don’t think we could have picked a tougher draw, unless we’d got them away, but I think we’ve got a good chance,” said Casey, who’s anticipating a crowd of about 3,000.

“And, of course, the financial involvement is so crucial to us because we’re trying to put a new pitch down and it’s a £60,000+ payday if we win so it’s a very big day for us.

“It’s big money and it’s game-changing money. It puts us ahead in terms of budgetary planning if we get the £60,000+ and we can look forward with confidence about putting a new pitch down.

“We’ve had a terrific run - we’ve done really well - especially playing every single game away from home until now.

“Everything we make in terms of income, all the income is heading towards the new pitch.

“We should make a profit this year - we didn’t last year because of various different things, including the cost of being in the National League - and everything we’ve earned in the FA Cup goes straight to the bottom line for reinvestment.

“That’s what we’ve done for 12 years - we reinvest all our profits - and that’s what we’re going to do with all the cup money.”

Maidstone have reached the Second Round four times in the past nine years - facing Wrexham, MK Dons, Oldham and Blackpool - but the next stage and a potential draw against one of the giants of English football has eluded them.

It would be a huge moment for the club and a crowning glory to go with all the success achieved during the Gallagher Stadium years if attempt number five is successful.

There have been a couple of relegations along the way, too, but things are on the up under manager George Elokobi.

“The Third Round of the FA Cup and getting to Wembley in the FA Trophy would be two lovely things to happen,” said Casey.

“If you make the Third Round, again that’s a massive game-changer if you get the right draw.

“They’re exciting times at the football club after last year’s quite depressing times to be perfectly honest.

“The fact is we don’t have one of the biggest budgets in the league now so George has had to do a lot with not very much.

“For example, Havant (who Maidstone beat 3-1 on Tuesday night) will have a much bigger budget.

“We can’t afford some of the players they’ve signed.

“That gets through to the fans, they realise we’ve brought a lot of players up from lower leagues and we’ve got Levi Amantchi who nobody had really heard of but we fancied him.

“The fans realise what George is trying to do.

“He’s a big personality, he works his socks off and the supporters recognise that.”

Maidstone’s FA Cup success means there’s no pressure to cash in on 20-goal striker Amantchi.

He’s enjoying the best season of his career, with his form likely to alert clubs at higher levels.

Stones boss Elokobi said last week he has a long-term plan for his summer signing from Brackley.

And Casey said: “Levi’s not going anywhere. That’s an absolute certainty. He needs to learn a little bit more.

“George has taught him immense amounts.

“He’s a different player to what he was at the start of the season, so if he carries on that level of improvement he’s going to be a real hot property for us.”