Linfield are on the brink of blowing the biggest pay day in their history.
For nine days the Belfast club have been rubbing their hands at the prospect of a Champions League visit from Celtic in the week that the club will be celebrating William of Orange and the Battle of the Boyne.
Seeing off La Fiorita of San Marino was all that they needed to do to coin in the best part of a million pounds as they cash in on their sectarian past.
An 18,000 sell out crowd at Windsor Park boosted by a television audience curious to see an outbreak of sectarian tension would have set Linfield up for years to come.
A narrow 1-0 home win against the minnows from San Marino leaves the tie in the balance for Tuesday’s return match.
It took an 89th minute goal from Jordan Stewart to give the home side a win but La Fiorita will be buoyed by the performance knowing that they have every chance of hosting Celtic in the biggest club match San Marino has ever hosted.
