Both Wakefield and Castleford expressed fears that the transfer would mean the �1.7m wage limit being breached.

But Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay insisted: "Wild speculation always comes up when Wigan sign a player.

"We are in control of our salary cap and have advised the Rugby Foobtall League of our exact situation."

Clubs in breach of the wage limit can be deducted points, although the punishment is not usually applied until the following season after accounts have been audited.

Wakefield chief executive Steve Ferres told the Yorkshire Post: "I hope the RFL will be strong as Wigan seem to be testing the ethics of the game.

"If any club is found to have flouted salary cap rules this season then action must be taken."

And Ferres, whose club are just six points above the bottom-placed Warriors warned: "If they (RFL) are not strong then we are in danger of losing all credibility.

Money might be no object to Wigan but that should not be at the expense of the salary cap Castleford chief executive Richard Wright

"It's no good docking anyone points next year because the damage would already have been done."

Castleford chief executive Richard Wright, whose club have just one point more than Wakefield, added: "It is important we play by the rules.

"Money might be no object to Wigan but that should not be at the expense of the salary cap."

But these comments have sparked an angry response from Wigan, whose coach Brian Noble said: "The acquisition of Stuart is within the rules of the RFL.

"We refute any accusations made by anyone within the Rugby League fraternity."

Warriors chairman Lindsay added: "Comments from two of our relegation rivals are, I assume, in respond to leading questions.

"We are well aware of our salary cap requirements and we are working within those requirements.

"Stuart Fielden will not be the highest paid player in the game although it is a very good contract and obviously better than the amount he earned at Bradford."

Fielden will make his Wigan debut in Friday's clash with Warrington

Lindsay also re-acted angrily to speculation that the near-�450,000 Fielden deal would go up to �1.5m in total.

"These days people seem to be able to simply think of a number and double it," he said.

"It is a sad way to go about things but clubs just have to keep putting wild speculation right."

Meanwhile, Wigan props Bryn Hargreaves and Jerry Seuseu are among the players to make way for the arrival of Fielden.

Wigan recently allowed Dennis Moran, Oliver Wilkes and Jordan James to join Widnes.

Now they have now allowed 20-year-old Hargreaves to go out on a month's loan to Leigh while former New Zealand international Seuseu is set to bring forward his retirement to take effect after Friday's match against Warrington.

The 32-year former Auckland Warrior had intended to hang up his boots at the end of the season after being plagued by a knee injury for the last six months.

Lindsay said: "Jerry been limping in training for six months. He only agreed to stay on while we were struggling. He's a very brave man."