THE Football League has welcomed fans’ support of the Echo’s End the Embargo campaign.

The paper yesterday handed over a 700-strong petition to the league’s director of external affairs Gavin Megaw at their central London HQ following a tremendous response from the club’s supporters to our quest.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe, whose side kicked off their League Two campaign with a stunning 3-0 win at Bury on Saturday, has been unable to bolster his resources over the summer due to the league’s ongoing transfer ban.

And with cover in key areas limited, Howe is desperate to bring in new faces before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.

But although Megaw was full of praise for the level of support shown by the Dean Court faithful and sympathetic to the pressure the embargo has placed on the shoulders of rookie boss Howe, he did reiterate that the league would not comment directly on Cherries’ case.

Megaw told the Echo: “It is good to see AFC Bournemouth fans supporting their club and we welcome the opportunity to explain how the league uses transfer embargoes to protect our competition and member clubs.

“When football clubs go into administration, the future of the club is clearly at risk and so it’s essential that the league takes steps to prevent clubs exiting administration becoming insolvent again in the immediate term.

“The league does this by monitoring the club’s budgetary arrangements for a period of time after the club has left administration.

“This includes overseeing the club’s playing staff arrangements through the use of an embargo – the aim being to ensure the club has a playing staff which enables it to compete in league football, while also living within its means.”

When asked how hard it was to get an embargo lifted, Megaw added: “Transfer embargos are imposed to protect the integrity of the competition and all the clubs competing within it.

“The league continually works with clubs facing such circumstances to ensure they are aware of the steps required to have the embargo lifted.

“As I am sure you will understand, the league does not disclose specific reasons for a club receiving an embargo and we would direct you to the club for more details on that.”

The Echo understands the club has now submitted all the required information and documentation to the league in its bid to have the embargo lifted and is currently awaiting a response.