The English Football League is approaching the final few weeks of another dramatic season.
It promises to be a fascinating finale at both ends of all three divisions. But for a clutch of clubs, it has been a testing campaign, having to operate under the constraints of a transfer embargo. A number of sides were placed under embargoes last summer.
In the case of Derby County this was down to a number of reasons such as failing to provide relevant accounts and entering administration. Most other cases were as a result of clubs taking a loan to cover losses as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hull City were one of the clubs placed under embargo last summer but had it lifted in January following their takeover when the loan was repaid.
Here, we look at how the seven EFL clubs still under embargo are faring heading into the final straight.
Derby County
The EFL club that has been subject to most headlines this season, Derby County are still in administration.
The Rams are enduring a season where everything that could have gone wrong mostly has. Wayne Rooney's side have not only had to deal with the aforementioned embargo, which has limited them to a clutch of free agent signings, but they have also been hamstrung by handicaps totalling 21 points.
Add in a skeleton squad and it is a miracle they are even still in with a chance of survival. Derby still have it all to do though and are nine points adrift of safety with just six games left to play.
Reading
The second Championship side still acting under constraints, Reading have also had a troublesome campaign. They were handed an embargo after a breach of profitability and sustainability rules. That was handed down in July and restricted them to bringing in only free agents and loan signings.
Reading were plodding along in 16th place when in November they were handed a six-point deduction after breaching financial rules following heavy losses. Since then their form has plummeted and it is only in recent weeks, under interim boss Paul Ince, that they have begun to create a buffer between them and the drop zone.
They are currently eight points clear of relegation and will be hoping to just get this season done with their second tier status intact.
Fleetwood
The Cod Army are in their eighth successive season in League One but are in clear danger of surrendering that. Stephen Crainey stepped up from his role as under-23s boss earlier in the season, after Simon Grayson's exit.
There was an initial bounce but Fleetwood's fight could go down to the wire. They recently went on a horror 13-game winless run and are currently just a point clear of danger, albeit with a game in hand.
Gillingham
Another third tier side who were limited to just frees and loan acquisitions. Gillingham have been struggling most of the season and currently find themselves in the fourth and final relegation spot, a point shy of safety.
Neil Harris was named as Steve Evans' replacement back in January and performances, generally, have improved to give them a fighting chance.
Their big problem is goals - only lowly Doncaster have scored fewer than the Gills' tally of 31.
Oldham Athletic
One of three League Two sides handed an embargo, the Latics have endured a turbulent campaign.
Fan protests amid the ongoing ownership of the club by Abdallah Lemsagam have coincided with a poor season on the pitch. Speaking to the Mirror back in March Steve Shipman, of fans' group Push The Boundary, says a feeling of discontent had long set in at Boundary Park altough the recent appointment of club icon John Sheridan has given them hope.
"You name it, it's happened," he said. "The place is still a circus - but it feels as if we've got an acceptable ringmaster."
Indeed, Sheridan has overseen a topsy-turvy spell since returning in January. He won three of his first five, then none of the next eight. Two wins on the spin suddenly have Oldham three points clear of danger and with genuine hope of a happy end to a traumatic season.
Scunthorpe
While Oldham have a glimmer of hope, there is little positivity to be found at Scunthorpe. It is a matter of when, not if, the Iron surrender their Football League place after 72 uninterrupted years. They have been a shambles on the pitch, winning just four of their 40 league games and conceding 72 times.
Experienced EFL campaigner Keith Hill was appointed back in November but has overseen just two wins. They are 13 points adrift with six games to go and are seemingly doomed to the National League.
Swindon Town
The only club on this list that is anywhere near the promotion spots, Swindon are looking to bounce straight back into League One.
The Robins endured a tumultuous off-season but the takeover by Clem Morfuni provided a fresh start for them. Some canny free agents were signed up, including Wales international Jonny Williams and top scorer Harry McKirdy. Ben Garner's side are two points shy of the play-off spots but crucially have a game in hand.
Given their chaotic pre-season, finishing in the top seven would represent a superb achievement for Swindon this term.
