CHERRIES are understood to have been hit by a Football League transfer embargo, the Daily Echo can today exclusively reveal.

It is believed that boss Kevin Bond has been blocked from adding to his threadbare squad due to the club's perilous financial position.

The ban is likely to have been imposed as a result of the club lodging their notice of intention to appoint an administrator or for other financial reasons.

According to Daily Echo sources in South Wales, Cherries were prevented from signing Cardiff City goalkeeper David Forde on an emergency loan yesterday. It is understood Bond had agreed a deal with Bluebirds boss Dave Jones to take Forde on a short-term basis in a bid to solve Cherries goalkeeping crisis.

And the 28-year-old was already on route to Dean Court when he was told he would have to turn back as the Football League had vetoed his signing.

Forde, who was due to start for Cherries against Luton last night and had even had a shirt printed, instead headed back to the Principality and lined up for Cardiff in a Welsh Cup tie at Welshpool.

Although his signing was expected to be funded by Cardiff, it apparently fell through when Cherries officials attempted to register the paperwork yesterday lunchtime.

Bond was forced to blood rookie goalkeeper Ryan Pryce again-st Luton and he certainly played his part in a stirring 4-3 victory that took Cherries off the foot of League One. The 18-year-old made a crucial save from Drew Talbot to preserve Cherries' 2-0 lead after Max Gradel and Jo Kuffour had scored.

But there was little he could do to stop Matthew Spring reducing the arrears from a disputed penalty before goals from Dean Morgan and Paul Furlong gave Luton the lead.

However, a dramatic finale saw Sam Vokes level in the closing stages before Brett Pitman came off the bench to head home a stoppage-time winner.

Bond said: "We made hard work of it, that's for sure. We did really well to go 2-0 up but gave away three of the poorest goals you've ever seen and made it so difficult for ourselves.

"But the lads didn't give up and for the first time in a long while, we had the rub of the green and the two late goals gave us what we deserved. It was a good performance and the lads got their rewards."

Discussing Pryce's contribution, Bond said: "He wouldn't have deserved to have been on the losing side. He pulled off a couple of great saves and handled himself fantastically well for such an important match. He should remember it for the rest of his life because he's got a lot to be proud of."

Pryce said: "It was an unreal feeling and one that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I was a bit nervous in the tunnel but the crowd gave me a great ovation and that gave me a big life and a lot of confidence to take into the game."

Pitman, Jason Pearce and Marvin Bartley are due to line up in Cherries' Pontin's Holidays Combination clash at Yeovil today (2pm).