Cardiff register trio for season as transfer ban lifted
Cardiff City say the Football League has lifted their transfer embargo and the club has registered their three loan signings for the season's start.
Jason Koumas, Tom Heaton and Danny Drinwater are now in contention to face Sheffield United at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday.
The transfer ban was imposed due to a delay in paying debts, including £1.3m owed to HM Revenue and Customs.
A Bluebirds website statement read: "All obligations have been met."
Earlier Cardiff manager Dave Jones told BBC Sport: "The embargo is off. That has all been sorted so we are now able to register players."
Registration for their three summer recruits required Premier League, Football League and Football Association of Wales approval.
It means goalkeeper Heaton and loan midfield duo Koumas and Drinkwater are eligible for Sunday's Championship opener.
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Manager Jones is now hopeful he can bolster his defeated Championship play-off finalists as he bids to make it third time lucky as Cardiff chase their Premier League dream.
"It has been frustrating for everybody," said Jones. "But the club worked hard to get it removed and we are grateful for it."
Cardiff, who remain between £15m and £30m in debt, suffered their first transfer embargo at the end of last season yet still qualified for the Championship play-off final.
The Bluebirds faced five winding-up orders at the High Court over an unpaid £1.9m debt to the taxman before it as ultimately cleared in June.
But they faced a fresh winding-up order at the High Court on 11 August over this new £1.3m PAYE bill.
The Championship club claim the debt is paid - and the Football League's relaxing of the embargo would appear to back that up.
However, club officials must still attend the High Court in London on 11 August for the HMRC action to be formally dismissed.
The delay in lodging end of-year accounts and money being owed to the brokers of defender Mark Hudson's £1m move from Charlton to Cardiff last summer also accounted for the Football League sanction.
Cardiff chief executive Gethin Jenkins is delighted that the embargo has been lifted so Jones can strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
"It has been challenging but we are pleased the embargo has been lifted," Cardiff chief executive Gethin Jenkins told BBC Sport
"It means we can register the players we've already brought in.
"And Dave Jones will now come forward with a list of other players he is looking to recruit to strengthen the playing squad.
"Our aim is to keep the starting XI from last season and Dave and I hope to add to that list."
Cardiff have been linked with a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Andy Keogh and although Jones would not confirm his targets, the manager now hopes to sign reinforcements in time for their visit to Derby County on Saturday week.
But Jenkins, who arrived from Newport Gwent Dragons rugby region in May, has warned the club could suffer a third transfer ban.
"We will have to face further challenges and we're fully aware of them," said Jenkins.
"And we will meet them head on to bring the business onto a strong commercial and financial footing. Then hopefully we can grow the team and grow the business."
"But we can't rule out another embargo, that is certainly a possibility."
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