CHAIRMAN Jeff Mostyn expressed his delight after Cherries had passed their first financial fair play test and then fired a broadside at the club’s doubters.

The club received confirmation from the Football League that their house was in order and that they had “fully complied” with the strict regulations for last season.

Financial fair play for the Championship came into effect for the first time this season – following a trial period – and clubs exceeding a maximum permitted loss threshold face penalties, which could include a transfer embargo.

In interviews with the Daily Echo, Mostyn had repeatedly said he was “confident” Cherries would meet the criteria, although unsubstantiated reports in other media suggested they could fall foul.

An article published online by The Mail on Sunday last weekend claimed Cherries were “one of nine clubs expected to be sanctioned in the next few weeks with transfer bans or fines for over-spending in the Championship”.

It was the second publication to suggest Cherries could be subject to possible sanctions after a story in the Ipswich Star last month speculated that the Dorset club had exceeded the allowed level of losses.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Mostyn said: “I am delighted the Football League has confirmed that the club has fully complied with financial fair play regulations. I had stated on numerous occasions that I was always confident the club would comply in every respect.

“Wildly speculative and ill-informed reports suggesting otherwise have been a huge cause of irritation as have a minority of so-called followers who have taken it upon themselves to make negative comments that the club would have a transfer embargo placed on it in January.

“These people had chosen to read articles – among others in the Mail on Sunday and Ipswich Star – which suggested the football club would be embargoed. These stories were poorly written by individuals who had no knowledge of the club’s financial position and were based on pure speculation rather than fact.

“I would like to thank the vast majority of our supporters for having the confidence in me and the football club that if we say we are confident in achieving a particular goal, it is because we are in possession of all the facts.”

Financial fair play is designed to ensure clubs break even over a three-year period and the maximum permitted loss in the Championship is currently £8million – or £3m if an owner does not inject equity. At the start of 2016-17, it will rise to a ceiling of £13m, with anything above the minimum needing to be justified to the Football League.

Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are the three Championship clubs set to be hit with transfer embargoes.