Manchester City have turned down a request from Exeter City to give them a larger share of gate receipts from their upcoming FA Cup third-round tie. The League One club, which is majority-owned by its supporters' trust, had asked the Premier League champions for a voluntary transfer of a portion of their matchday revenue as a 'statement of solidarity'.
Exeter, who have been fan-owned since 2003, are taking 8,000 supporters to a sold-out Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Under FA Cup rules, each club receives 45% of gate receipts, with the remaining 10% going to the Football Association. Ticket sales are expected to generate between £250,000 and £400,000 for Exeter.
The club's supporters' trust published a statement on Wednesday, reposted on Exeter's X account, saying the request was made 'in recognition of Exeter City’s supporter-ownership model and the financial realities faced by fan-owned clubs'. It added that such a gesture 'would have a tangible impact on their finances and would stand as a strong statement of solidarity with sustainable, fan-owned football'.
Exeter have faced financial difficulties this season, making two rounds of redundancies and requiring £600,000 in loans from the supporters' trust to stabilise finances. Additionally, their home ground, St James Park, suffered approximately £100,000 in fire damage in November. The match has not been selected for television coverage, depriving Exeter of a potential broadcast windfall, and replays have been abolished from the first round proper, eliminating another income opportunity.
