Marine will be forced to play their dream FA Cup date with Tottenham at a different venue if they cannot make their stadium Covid-19 secure.
Rossett Park can normally host up to 3,185 fans and is one of the most renowned grounds in non-League football. And there was a bounce around Crosby — the area of Merseyside where Marine are based — on Tuesday about the prospect of welcoming Jose Mourinho and his Premier league leaders next month in the third round.
But the tie could be moved to a bigger nearby venue in order to meet social distancing guidelines.
Marine, who play in the Northern Premier League Division One North West, are in talks with the FA and Sefton Council, as well as several other parties, but their intention at this stage is to use their regular ground.
Merseyside is in Tier 2, meaning as many 2,000 spectators could attend the match should coronavirus infection rates remain at their current level.
Club officials, though, know there is a possibility of a switch. On the weekend of January 9, Everton host Rotherham — which would seemingly eliminate Goodison Park as an option — but both Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers play away from home.
Wherever it is played, the tie will bring a significant cash windfall for Marine, who have earned £150,000 from seven games on their extraordinary run, culminating in Sunday’s last-gasp victory against Havant and Waterlooville.
