NORTHWICH Victoria will appeal against a ban stopping the club signing new players.

Manager Dino Maamria told the Guardian last week that he was barred from bringing in fresh faces to ease his injury crisis, an embargo that has been in place since last Wednesday.

“That was for an alleged failure to provide certain financial information in terms of management accounts, certainly not because of any unpaid creditors,” read a club statement.

“Since the takeover there have been numerous inherited issues with regard to (lack of) accounts – these have proved expensive, time-consuming and a distraction.

“The FA and Football Conference have both recognised the club has been put in a difficult position, not of its own making.”

No date has been set for a hearing although it is likely to be weeks, not days, away.

That said, the Guardian learned last night, Tuesday, that the club hope to have the embargo lifted by the end of the week.

An appeal would then be judged later.

Meanwhile the game’s governing body has denied punishing Vics with a transfer ban.

“It has nothing to do with us, speak to the Conference,” said FA spokesman Mark Hooper.

The Guardian called the league on Thursday and is still waiting for general manager Dennis Strudwick to respond to a request for an interview.

The Football Conference has introduced a new system this season, designed in tandem with the FA, for the 68 clubs in its Premier, North and South divisions, to help them keep on top of their debts.

Clubs must report to league bosses every quarter on what they owe HM Revenue and Customs and are required to show they have paid up within two months or have a written agreement scheduling the payments.

In Vics’ case it is the latter.

If a club fails to pay its tax, or it fails to provide information requested by the league, then the Conference will slap them with a transfer ban.

The club statement continued: “There have been a number of challenges since the takeover last November.

“Since then substantial investment – well into six figures – has been made.

“It is fair to say that the financial records of the club were in various different locations and some documents could not be found.

“In any event, vigorous and effective action is being taken to achieve an amicable solution.”