NORTHWICH Victoria can add to their squad again after the Football Conference ended a signings ban this afternoon, Friday.

But manager Andy Preece faces a race against time to register former AFC Telford United midfielder Jamie Vermiglio in time to face Gloucester City.

Vics have been subject to a transfers embargo since mid-October.

Vermiglio, 27, has been training with his new teammates for the past month while waiting for league bosses to give him permission to play.

They initially told Northwich that the club would need to exit administration before they would allow fresh faces to join the team.

But an appeal from Vics’ new administrator Gary Pettit, appointed in place of Refresh Recovery Ltd at the end of last month, this week has persuaded them to act sooner.

“It’s been a real frustration for the manager,” he told the Guardian.

“I put our case to the Conference to lift the embargo and, fortunately, they have decided in our favour.”

Preece had hoped to be in a position to select Vermiglio to face Hinckley United on Tuesday, but the Conference said the matter would only be discussed at a board meeting the following day.

They confirmed their decision on Friday.