BOSS Kevin Bond has expressed his "frustration" at the game's rule-makers over Cherries' hectic Easter programme and Sam Vokes's international call-up for Wales.

Bond is unhappy that today's opponents Tranmere Rovers were allowed a four-day break between their holiday fixtures, while Cherries had just 48 hours.

And he also believes it is unfair that some League One clubs can today field full internationals, while injury-hit Cherries have been forced to make do without under-21 star Vokes.

Bond told the Daily Echo: "I don't blame Tranmere or Ronnie Moore, but it's a mystery to me how they managed to get one game on Thursday and the second on Monday, whereas we've had to play Saturday and Monday.

"Without wanting to make excuses, it must give them a distinct advantage and the fact we are short of bodies just compounds it.

"But that's not a rules issue, that is our problem. However, it doesn't help when you've got so little time to recover from a game on a Saturday and it's frustrating to say the least."

Vokes is ineligible for Cherries after yesterday joining up with Wales for their European Under-21 Championship qualifier in Bosnia on Wednesday afternoon.

However, League One rivals Gillingham, Doncaster, Oldham and Swansea are permitted to field players who have been named in the Wales senior squad for a friendly against Luxembourg on Wednesday evening.

Bond said: "The senior game kicks off at 7.15pm and the under-21 match kicks off at 3pm. That has made all the difference because of the 48-hour call-up rule.

"It's a rule that works to the advantage of other teams but not to us. I understand it isn't Wales's job to look after Bournemouth's interests and when I asked for Sam to be released, they said they couldn't do it for me because then they would have to do it for everybody else as well. If I'd had prior knowledge, I could have requested a 1pm kick off.

"It's another imponderable that is very frustrating. I realise these are the rules and we've been hit by them. We're pushing uphill at this moment in time anyway and we're having all sorts thrown at us.

"We're not having any time to recover between games when our opponents are getting four days and we can't play players when other teams can. The rules and regulations are killing us at every turn."

FA of Wales press officer Ceri Stennett told the Daily Echo: "The under-21s are playing a UEFA Championship match and the international rules state that we are fully entitled to have those players not play for their clubs.

"The senior team are playing a friendly international which means that we have no jurisdiction over them until 48 hours before the game. We are acting totally within the rules.

"There is no question of favouritism for anybody. We are following and applying the rules as they stand from UEFA. None of the under-21 squad can play for their clubs."

To add to his woes, Bond has major injury doubts surrounding Josh Gowling (knee) and Brett Pitman (dead leg) ahead of today's clash with Tranmere (3pm).