CHERRIES manager Eddie Howe believes strict financial fair play rules could prevent smaller clubs from making progress.

Howe admitted Cherries’ failure to comply with the Football League’s regulations had come as “no surprise to us”.

Cherries look set to be hit with a hefty fine after pushing the boat out in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League last season.

An initial analysis of financial submissions from clubs in the Championship in 2014-15 has resulted in Cherries, Fulham and Nottingham Forest facing sanctions.

All three clubs exceeded the maximum permitted deviation of £6million and, as Cherries were promoted, they are in line to receive a financial penalty.

Fulham and Forest will be subject to a transfer embargo for the rest of the season, although Millwall – who also exceeded the allowance – will not be punished as they were relegated to League One.

Details of the amount Cherries are likely to be fined have not been published but will be determined by how much they went over the threshold.

Asked about financial fair play, Howe said: “I think a lot is made of it. It was no surprise to us. We knew where we were in terms of the situation. We have an ambitious owner and we are an ambitious club that wants to move forward.

“At this level and Championship level, our income is nowhere near enough to achieve success. Unfortunately, you have to spend a little bit to give yourself a chance of that.

“Yes, we have spent above our means regarding those rules but it was only down to the limited income of the club due to the capacity of the ground.

“We don’t want a league table that picks itself. We want it so that a smaller club can still achieve great things. I don’t see anything wrong if people have the money and are willing to put it into a football club.”

Asked whether he felt it would be possible for smaller clubs to be successful without investment, Howe replied: “I think it is very difficult if you don’t have some financial backing to achieve success. Not so much in League One and League Two because we achieved promotion with a year-long embargo so it is possible up to a certain point and then you need to invest.

“You are not going to get promoted to the Championship or into the Premier League without some investment. For a club like this, with the limited income that we can generate, it does have to come from someone else.”

And asked whether he felt it was just a punishment for smaller clubs, Howe replied: “It is the timing really. If you go back through the history of football there will be great stories where people or teams have achieved great things due to financial backing from an owner or a benefactor or whatever you want to call it.

“They have enabled that side to push on to great things. What the FFP structure will do is stop the underdog, the smaller team, having the chance to succeed and I don’t think anyone will want to see that – the rich get richer and the smaller clubs struggle to compete.

“It is a very delicate balance and something that football needs think about before anybody goes in a certain direction.”