The cap, which will come into effect from next season, will limit expenditure on players' wages to £150,000 for National League One clubs and £100,000 for National League Two clubs, but no more than 50% of income.

Clubs will be able to apply for exemptions in special cases and that will almost certainly apply to relegated Super League clubs keen to retain a full-time playing staff.

RFL financial director Nigel Wood said: "While it is clear that excess spending amongst National League clubs is not quite the problem it was some years ago, there was still a unanimous view that clubs must be regulated and disciplined to live within their means.

"The proposed regulations will hopefully regulate excess spending and reward those clubs who succeed in developing their businesses on a holistic basis."

Super League clubs are limited to spending £1.8million on players' salaries.

The penalties for breaching the regulations agreed by the National League clubs include such potential punishments as point deductions, automatic relegation or the denial of promotion and fines.