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The Crusaders rugby league team is facing legal action from the players' union over claims of missing pension payments.

The problem dates back to before the club's relocation from Bridgend to Wrexham and corresponding change of ownership last year.

The players concerned should have had an agreed amount from their salaries paid into offshore pension funds, but the union claims these monies have gone missing.

The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) has begun legal proceedings after the club failed to explain why wage deductions from eight overseas players have not been paid into pension plans as agreed.

Geoff Burrow, sports secretary of the GMB, a union that runs the RLPA, said: "The money has been deducted from the wages and not put into any pension fund.

"When the pension provider needed the right paperwork to satisfy HMRC, the previous owners were never forthcoming. When the new owners took over, it all started again.

"So, an amount of money from the previous club and this club has not been put in.

"The pension provider needs the relevant paperwork and despite many requests they have not completed it.

"There is all this money, no-one knows where it has gone. We don't know the exact amount – it varies from player to player – but it is considerable.

"Our solicitors issued them with a threat of legal proceedings. They contacted the solicitors and asked for a three-week delay while they tried to restructure their finances.

"The three weeks was up last week, so we are going onto the next stage."

Meanwhile, the team is refusing to comment on reports it has been issued with a winding-up petition.

It has been claimed that HMRC has served the order on behalf of the Government.

That has led to speculation the Wrexham-based club could opt to go into administration but officials at Crusaders would not confirm or deny the reports.

A Crusaders spokesman said: "The club appreciates the concerns of supporters but we are not currently in a position to comment on matters. The club will make a further announcement regarding these issues in the near future."