Don’t talk to Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson about the romance of the FA Cup, because his love affair with the competition has already fizzled out.

Ks will face either Poole Town or Andover in the first qualifying round of this year’s campaign with the manager looking to improve his record in the competition.

The Kingsmeadow outfit have never reached the first round proper under Dowson, with third qualifying round defeats to Hayes & Yeading and St Albans City being the closest they have come to reaching the main draw.

This year’s final between Manchester City and Stoke City at Wembley on the same Manchester United were crown Premier League champions with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers.

And Dowson says that is why the magic of the competition he has loved since he was a boy, has died.

“I used to get excited about the FA Cup, but once they started playing other games on the same day as the cup final, the glamour went out of it for me,” he said.

“Of course we want a run to generate a few quid, but that is the only incentive for clubs now. It is all clubs are worried about.

“That is how all clubs at this level look at it now, rather than a giant killing.

“We want success in the FA Cup like anyone else, but it is about the money, not the glory. I can get more excited about the FA Trophy.”

And while Dowson admits an early defeat in the competition could be costly for some non-League managers, the Ks chief thinks he would be safe even if Kingstonian crashed at the first hurdle again.

“There will be five or six managers lose their jobs if they get knocked out early it is as simple as that,” he added.

“A lot of teams set their budgets assuming success in the cups, but we’re not like that.

“I’d rather have a slightly smaller budget and see a cup run as a nice bonus.”

Kingstonian have drawn Godalming Town in the opening qualifying round of the FA Trophy.