Oxford United’s stars are backing the petition set up by supporters demanding that the Conference overturns its decision to dock points from four clubs for fielding ineligible players.

The U’s squad, including the player in question, Eddie Hutchinson, are set to sign the petition today as a show of support for the fan-driven campaign.

More than 3,000 fans from each of the four affected clubs – Oxford United, Crawley Town, Mansfield Town and Bognor Regis – have signed the online petition since its creation 11 days ago.

Over 1,000 Oxford United fans signed the petition before passing through the turnstiles before last Saturday’s home game against Barrow.

The petition will be handed in person to the Conference this week, ahead of the internal review of its procedures, which is due to report on February 23.

Oxford United were deducted five points by a disciplinary review panel in Birmingham for not registering Hutchinson properly, or checking that he had been registered. At one stage it looked as though they might be docked 11 points.

Hutchinson told the Oxford Mail last night: “After it happened, the boys have all got on with it and not used it as an excuse.

“No-one wanted the possibility of the appeal failing and us losing more points, but it’s great the fans have got this petition together and if there’s any way of putting pressure on, without the risk of losing further points, I’m right behind that.”

He added: “It should have been three points, just for the first game in question and then the Conference should have spotted it.

“The five points seems harsh, without that we’d be up there with fourth and fifth place. The 11 points was ridiculous because it was over a long time.”

OxVox (Oxford United’s Supporters’ Trust) press spokesperson Mark Sennett said: “I think it’s wonderful that the players are set to sign the petition and it’s great that they are supporting an initiative driven by the fans.

“We hope this petition will have a big impact and force the Conference to reverse its decision to dock points from the four affected clubs.

“We also hope it will lead to the Conference changing its archaic registration process before another club suffers a similar unjustifiable punishment.”

When the petition was set up, Martin Shaw, of Stag Fans United, said: “It is grossly unfair that four clubs in the Conference Premier and South have suffered points deductions so far this season, in a large part down to the inadequacy of the Conference's archaic systems.

“In all cases, it is quite clear that there was no intent to gain an unfair advantage.

“Hence the deduction of points is ridiculously out of proportion to the severity of the issue, and we urge the Conference Internal Review team to accept the procedures were fundamentally flawed and to re-instate the points for all four clubs.”