Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt is well aware of the importance of a good cup run to his club's finances, as he prepares for today's FA Cup tie against Solihull Moors.

While Evatt's tenure has brought about plenty of improvements on the pitch, he has yet to win in a cup competition with the Bluebirds, discounting the Lancashire Senior Cup, which is largely used to field fringe players and youngsters.

A year ago, their FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Chorley ended in disaster after AFC blew a two-goal lead in the second half to lose 3-2 which, incidentally, came just days before Paul Casson stepped down as owner.

Barrow were then extremely unlucky to be defeated 2-1 by FC Halifax Town in the first round of the FA Trophy, as they fell victim to a late, deflected winner for the visitors after hitting the woodwork four times in stormy conditions.

As he looks to make it third time lucky, Evatt said: "We're unfortunate in many ways that we haven't got the kind of money other clubs have got at this level.

"We need to be sustainable - we've got fantastic owners who put a lot of their own money into getting this club where it is right now and we need to repay that by trying to get a good cup run going that keeps this club sustainable in the future.

"The money involved with the FA Cup now is huge, especially at our level, so that brings about a different kind of pressure, but one we have to embrace.

"There are no guarantees - we can win or lose - but we can guarantee that our own performance levels will be the same, win lose or draw, and if we can do that then we'll give ourselves a better chance of winning than losing."

Defeating Solihull at Holker Street would earn the Bluebirds £18,750, a place in the first round proper for the first time in three years and the potential of drawing a club the size of Sunderland, Ipswich or Portsmouth.

Evatt is hoping the game will showcase how far his team have come in the space of a year, especially as it represents a chance to equal a club record of eight straight wins in major competitions.

He said: "We're a different team, we've evolved. In football, you can never stand still because if you stand still it will soon catch you out.

"We recruited well in the summer, we're moving forwards and progressing as a football club.

"It's great that the whole town is buying into what we're doing and we need to carry that on, it's that simple. We need to give ourselves the best opportunity of going on a cup run and getting promoted out of our league."