PICTURE the scene: it's spring 2009 and the Grand National is fast approaching.

Buoyed by memories of past successes, you back your favourite horse, which is now a plucky outsider at a generous-looking 50-1.

As the race gets nearer, you see that your nag has been inserted, rather unfairly, at top weight.

Not only has the horse been hit hard by the handicapper, it will also be forced to start a few furlongs adrift of the field due to previous misdemeanours.

Not to worry, though, because your preferred jockey is still in the saddle. Hours before the race, however, the leading rider who was set to pilot your hopeful round the gruelling course has jumped ship to get on board a more fancied mount.

So you wait with bated breath as the trainer and owner scratch their heads in a bid to find another capable rider, virtually at the last minute, with all the highly-rated competitors booked up.

Having imagined this scenario, you can now understand what is going through the minds of AFC Bournemouth's long-suffering fans as the start of pre-season looms large on the horizon.

Likely to start in League Two on minus-15, with only troubled Luton set to be worse off, Cherries supporters have little to be optimistic about.

The club's administrator Gerald Krasner has confirmed that a fresh attempt to pass a successful Corporate Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) is highly unlikely so, with rivals Rotherham hopeful of securing a CVA of their own, Cherries look likely to begin the season where they ended the last campaign - in the relegation zone.

As if the pending points deduction is not bad enough, the club seems better prepared for Monday night seven-a-side league at Chapel Gate than a six-match warm-up schedule for life in the Football League's basement division.

They have just seven first-team players on the books, three of whom are youth graduates, two are keepers, and the senior one of those is unlikely to be available in the near future.

With star striker Sam Vokes sold to Wolves and the best of the eight out-of-contract players in demand with rival clubs, the Dean Court outfit could do with a helping hand from somewhere.

But what do those in power do to a club in trouble? Hit them with sanctions, that's what.

The transfer embargo which continues to hang over Dean Court is harsh. It's not as if the club want to lure big-money signings to the south coast, just a few free transfers to replenish the players set to leave would be nice. Or is registering 11 men for next season seen as an unnecessary luxury?

With centre-half Josh Gowling weighing up his options and midfielders Danny Hollands and Shaun Cooper rumoured to be attracting the attentions of League One sides, the prospect of not even being permitted to sign replacements for departing players is a bleak one.

This time of year normally sees fans up and down the country rushing to their club shops to get the name of their latest acquisition printed on the back of their replica shirts.

But Cherries supporters are being denied that pleasure as they are left to play a long and painful waiting game, with time fast running out.

No-one ever knows with this unique club, but let's hope there is a good team to support come August.