Luton's players have been told by the club's administrator that a win over Nottingham Forest in tomorrow's FA Cup second-round clash could be vital in securing their financial futures.
Kevin Blackwell's squad are currently playing for free after the Coca-Cola League One club was taken into administration last month and a win over Forest would be rewarded with a money-spinning televised clash with Premier League giants Liverpool in the third round.
The two sides met at the same stage of the competition two seasons ago in a thrilling 5-3 win for Rafael Benitez's side which was made memorable by midfielder Xabi Alonso scoring from inside his own half.
And administrator Brendan Guilfoyle admits that the chance of a repeat encounter at Kenilworth Road could be vital for the troubled club.
He told PA Sport: "It's a massive game in the sense that we don't have the wherewithal to pay the players at the moment.
"The PFA are not happy about that but the message to the players is clearly that if they can overcome Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night then there is a better chance that we can pay them.
"The Liverpool game has been nominated to be televised so there's £150,000 straight away and the commercial department have been tasked with trying to turn that into a seven-figure number.
"When you have cameras pointed at your ground for two hours there must be opportunities to maximise your revenue."
Blackwell's playing squad includes ex-Premier League players Don Hutchison, Paul Furlong, Chris Perry, Paul Peschisolido and Matthew Spring but Guilfoyle insists that nobody will be leaving the club for free.
He said: "We have a short-term, one-week agreement with the players for a total deferral of their wages and are in continued negotiations with the PFA and hope to have a longer-term agreement in place for Friday which will see some payment to them.
"They haven't been paid for November or the first week of December but they are football creditors so they will be paid by a purchaser of the club.
"In theory, if a player is unpaid for 14 days and has not signed a deferral then they are free agents but it's facile to believe that situation would ever happen.
"Let's say that our most valuable player refused to renew his deferral, we would pay him, it's as simple as that.
"We're not going to let anybody walk because if we do that, I may as well walk with them because that would be negligence.
"Nevertheless there are naive agents and clubs circling these players."
Blackwell's side have seen off Charlton and Sunderland in cup competition at Kenilworth Road this season but will start as underdogs against a Forest side who are currently in third place in the League One table.
Meanwhile Guilfoyle confirmed that the club have written to the Football Association to ask for a further extension to the deadline for responding to the 50 charges levelled at the club alleging breach of regulations regarding payments to agents.
The initial deadline of last Friday was extended until today but Guilfoyle confirmed that the club are still seeking information.
He said: "We have until today to respond but my solicitors have written to the FA and have asked for a further extension until such time as further information becomes available.
"So I don't regard that deadline as concrete but you would have to ask the FA what is happening.
"Nobody is denying the payments are made so we may be subject to sanctions."
A spokesman for the FA refused to comment and insisted that any correspondence between the two parties was confidential.
The two sides met at the same stage of the competition two seasons ago in a thrilling 5-3 win for Rafael Benitez's side which was made memorable by midfielder Xabi Alonso scoring from inside his own half.
And administrator Brendan Guilfoyle admits that the chance of a repeat encounter at Kenilworth Road could be vital for the troubled club.
He told PA Sport: "It's a massive game in the sense that we don't have the wherewithal to pay the players at the moment.
"The PFA are not happy about that but the message to the players is clearly that if they can overcome Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night then there is a better chance that we can pay them.
"The Liverpool game has been nominated to be televised so there's £150,000 straight away and the commercial department have been tasked with trying to turn that into a seven-figure number.
"When you have cameras pointed at your ground for two hours there must be opportunities to maximise your revenue."
Blackwell's playing squad includes ex-Premier League players Don Hutchison, Paul Furlong, Chris Perry, Paul Peschisolido and Matthew Spring but Guilfoyle insists that nobody will be leaving the club for free.
He said: "We have a short-term, one-week agreement with the players for a total deferral of their wages and are in continued negotiations with the PFA and hope to have a longer-term agreement in place for Friday which will see some payment to them.
"They haven't been paid for November or the first week of December but they are football creditors so they will be paid by a purchaser of the club.
"In theory, if a player is unpaid for 14 days and has not signed a deferral then they are free agents but it's facile to believe that situation would ever happen.
"Let's say that our most valuable player refused to renew his deferral, we would pay him, it's as simple as that.
"We're not going to let anybody walk because if we do that, I may as well walk with them because that would be negligence.
"Nevertheless there are naive agents and clubs circling these players."
Blackwell's side have seen off Charlton and Sunderland in cup competition at Kenilworth Road this season but will start as underdogs against a Forest side who are currently in third place in the League One table.
Meanwhile Guilfoyle confirmed that the club have written to the Football Association to ask for a further extension to the deadline for responding to the 50 charges levelled at the club alleging breach of regulations regarding payments to agents.
The initial deadline of last Friday was extended until today but Guilfoyle confirmed that the club are still seeking information.
He said: "We have until today to respond but my solicitors have written to the FA and have asked for a further extension until such time as further information becomes available.
"So I don't regard that deadline as concrete but you would have to ask the FA what is happening.
"Nobody is denying the payments are made so we may be subject to sanctions."
A spokesman for the FA refused to comment and insisted that any correspondence between the two parties was confidential.
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