Progress into the third round earned Exeter City £79,500 in prize money as well as at least £26,500 in the next match, even if they are beaten.
But it also opened up the chance of a lucrative tie against a top-flight side which could be vital for the club’s financial future.
Having overspent last season the club has needed loans totalling around £600,000 from owners the Exeter City Supporters’ Trust.
They have also landed the early payment of the sell-on clauses in former youth player Jay Stansfield’s move from Fulham to Birmingham City.
The club beat Championship side Oxford United to reach the fourth round last season where they lost on penalties at home to Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
“I always usually say a home draw, but I probably want an away draw this time if it’s a big one,” added Caldwell on who he would like to face next.
“Last year we got to this round and everyone says ‘who do you want to get?’.
“You want a big tie and we ended up with a really difficult game against a Championship team that we won, so as much as you want a big tie we want to go as far as we can in the competition.
“I don’t want us to be that team that whoever we get thinks ‘oh this is it and it’s just about money’, football is about winning, football is about memories and creating moments.
“We got Oxford last year, we managed to overcome that and created an amazing night here against [Nottingham] Forest where we were inches away from from getting a victory, so we take whoever we get.
“The big thing is we’re in the pot and and we will look forward to that when it comes.”
