EBBW Vale officials have vowed to resolve the pay issue which has left nine first-team players without their wages.

The players - not involved with either the Gwent regional set-up or the semi-professional Ebbw Vale side next season - have not been paid for the final month of last season.

The players, who were listed on an unofficial Ebbw Vale website, have now turned to the players' union in an attempt to resolve the situation.

The nine players are centre Ed Binham, hooker Jonathan Evans, centre Paul Matthews, outside-halves Mark Meenan and Scott Mitchell, flanker Tyron Morris, hooker Leyton Phillips, number eight Will Thomas and winger Nick Wakley.

"We have been in touch with the club constantly since not being paid and continually we have been fobbed off by the only person in the office," claims the website comment. "Not once have the directors had the decency to contact any one of us to explain why we're not being paid or how they selected those that have been paid, though all the Gwent linked players and officials have been paid.

"We use this board only as a last measure. We cannot contact the Russells and they will not contact us."

Thomas said: "We have been advised not to comment on the matter but we have referred the case to the players' union."

Ebbw Vale chairman Marcus Russell (pictured) refused to comment on the matter but did issue a statement. The statement promised to resolve the pay problem which has left the nine players without their wages and explained why they had not been paid.

It blamed Ebbw Vale's defeat against Caerphilly in the final home Premiership game of the season as the reason why they couldn't pay all the players.

The club had a projected income in place for wages but didn't compensate for a defeat against the Castletown men.

The statement said: "The club fell short of projected income for June as a result of the team failing to beat Caerphilly at the back end of last season.

"Although most wages have been paid on time, the remaining obligations of the old professional club are being worked through, and all will be met well before the month end."