Leeds and Castleford are thought to be among those favouring a cut from the current level of £1.8m

But Wigan and Bradford are both threatening to take legal action to block such a move.

"We should be looking at setting a minimum spend level instead of reducing the maximum spend," he McManus.

McManus argued that Saints would almost certainly have lost Great Britain stars Paul Sculthorpe, Kieron Cunningham and Sean Long to rugby union had the ceiling been set below the current limit.

"The whole thrust of this debate is misconceived," he said.

We should be looking at further incentivising success rather than undercutting it St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus

"We ought to be closely reviewing how to improve standards and maximise revenues, as well as rationalising unnecessary administrative and bureaucratic costs.

"We should be looking at further incentivising success rather than undercutting it.

"Had the salary ceiling not been set at £1.8m, then it is likely that Paul Sculthorpe, Kieron Cunningham and Sean Long would be playing rugby union by now.

"Those were the highest competitive offers on the table when we locked each of those players up in long-term contracts," he said.