A PETITION calling on the England Cricket Board to lift harsh sanctions imposed on Durham Cricket Club is gaining ground with over 1,500 people signing up so far.

Fans are are calling on the ECB to remove a pre-season point deduction to demonstrate magnanimity and offer players and supporters a “glimmer of hope at the end of a long dark tunnel”.

In October the board agreed a £3.8m rescue of the debt-ridden club, but imposed severe sanctions which saw the three-times county champions relegated to Division Two, start next season with a 48-point deduction and face penalties in both of cricket’s cup competitions.

The club, which appointed Ian Botham as chairman in the autumn, will also no longer be able to host test matches.

A online petition Ditch the Durham Penalty Points, set up by Sylvia and Peter Savage, is fast reaching its target of 2,500 signatures when it will be presented to ECB chairman Colin Graves.

Club supporter Geoff Robson said: “We are incensed with the treatment the ECB have meted out to Durham. There are so many injustices.

“What we are saying is while relegation is unavoidable, we do not see why we should start the season with 48 points deducted.

“That and the inability to hold test matches and salary caps all seem to be designed to keep Durham in the second division.

“If the point deduction is rescinded it will mean we will stand a chance of getting back to the first division next year.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones said: “The England Cricket Board have still given no explanation as to how they have given the points deduction and the club, including the chairman Ian Botham, should also be querying that.

“It reinforces the point as to whether he is a an ECB placeman who is going to accept what they do.”

Referring to the petition, he added: “It shows you the strength of anger that is out there and high-handed way in which the ECB has handled this. The people that have been forgotten in all of this have been the loyal supporters.

Durham is being reconstituted as a community interest company with Durham County Council converting a £3.7m loan into shares in the company.

The was no-one available at the ECB for comment.