THE chairman, director, and a player of Wigan, England's top rugby league club, were arrested yesterday in connection with allegations of conspiracy to defraud, police said.

Manchester detectives, carrying out an investigation into the club following allegations in a local newspaper, arrested the chairman, Jack Robinson, and director, John Martin, at their homes in Wigan. The thirdman arrested was understood to be a player.

The men were questioned by detectives at Wigan police station.

The investigation centred on claims of a bogus transfer deal involving one of the Super league club's international players.

Police had been examining a dossier of several hundred pages, including information supplied by the Wigan Observer, detailing the allegations.,

Nearly six weeks ago the Wigan Observer published allegations that Wigan players had been involved in drunken partying in a Tenerife hotel complex shortly before the shock Challenge Cup defeat by Salford that was said to have cost the club £250,000.

Detectives are understood to have interviewed other players at the club during the course of their investigation.

The Rugby Football League have begun their own investigation into the affair.

Wigan Observer editor in chief Carl Johnston said. "The matter is now in the hands of the police so we cannot make any further comment at this stage."