The Football League has imposed the measure until the payments are brought up to date.

It leaves the Swans unable to sign new players although outgoing transfers will not be affected.

Swansea chairman Tony Petty has blamed the new financial problems facing the club on former director Mel Nurse.

In a statement issued on Friday, Petty says that court action taken by Nurse to force the club into administration stopped the players being paid this month.

Petty said: "Swansea City Football Club has, in the short term, effectively run out of money.

"Staff at the club, however, will continue to be paid and the club has applied to the PFA for a loan to cover the players immediate wage bill.

"Recent legal action against Swansea has cost the club �155,000, money which would now be paying the players wages," he added.

"This legal action has done nothing but financially damage and cause public embarrassment to the club.

Consortium talks

Nurse hit back at Petty's claims, saying: "He's looking for excuses and someone to blame. And he's blaming me.

"I was happy after the court case because I thought he would not be bringing money into the club. That's all I wanted.

"But what's happened this month has proved to me that he hasn't got any money."

Petty went on to say that he was hoping to continue talks with a consortium about a possible sale of the club.

But he insists he will first make good his promise to hand over a third of the club to season-ticket holders.

He said: "When I step aside I will, therefore, have brought fresh investment and security to Swansea City and given the fans a permanent stake in their club.

"I will, personally, feel satisfied that I have done the best thing possible for the club, despite the ongoing personal attacks against me."

But Andy Davies, of the Swansea City Supporters Trust, said he wasn't confident of new faces arriving.

He said: "I will believe it when I see it. I have spoken to Mr Petty quite a lot in the past and have found most of his promises have been rubbish.

"If a consortium does come in then I would like them to be local. I don't care if they have massive amounts of money to spend, just to get the club back into local ownership would be something."