diff --git a/src/book.py b/src/book.py
index 3b5a1f7..7c19a59 100644
--- a/src/book.py
+++ b/src/book.py
@@ -462,7 +462,6 @@ class Book:
     @staticmethod
     def _clean_footnote_content(content):
         content = content.strip()
-        content = re.sub(r'^\d+ ?', '', content)
         return content.strip()
 
     def _process_footnotes(self):
@@ -486,7 +485,8 @@ class Book:
             new_tag.string = '*'
             anc_tag.replace_with(new_tag)
 
-            content = self._clean_footnote_content(cont_tag.text)
+            cont_tag.a.decompose()
+            content = self._clean_footnote_content(cont_tag.p.decode_contents())
             cont_tag.decompose()
 
             # new_tag = BeautifulSoup(features="lxml").new_tag('div')