The man in charge of managing Saracens' salary cap is one of two directors to have left the club in the past two months, it can be revealed.

The departures of finance chief Bernard van Zyl and property tycoon Nicholas Leslau come at a time when the Premiership and European champions are awaiting the outcome of a six-month salary cap investigation.

The case involves business arrangements between owner Nigel Wray and four England players who will start Saturday's World Cup semi-final.

Saracens are awaiting the outcome of an investigation by Premiership Rugby into owner Nigel Wray (pictured) and allegations that the club have breached salary cap regulations

Company documents show that group head of finance Van Zyl, whose responsibilities included managing the business's approach to the £7million salary cap, stepped down in September after more than three years at the club.

Having joined Saracens in January 2016, Van Zyl described himself as the 'No 1 in Finance' at the club and said he had 'primary responsibility for achieving the business's financial strategy'.

According to his LinkedIn page, his role consisted of: 'Managing the business's approach to, and compliance with, the regulatory requirements of the Salary Cap regulations, including responsibility for reporting, and regulatory compliance via the Salary Cap audit process.'

It has been alleged that owner Wray (pictured) made financial arrangements with players

Leslau, who is estimated to be worth £350m and is a long-term business associate of Wray's, stepped down this week after more than 20 years at the club, according to Companies House.

Sportsmail has been told that the departures are not related to the salary cap case and that Leslau, 60, left to take on an educational project while Van Zyl has moved to a job in the City. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by them.

Saracens have been the subject of a lengthy investigation into whether they breached Premiership Rugby's (PRL) salary cap, with proceedings escalating in recent months with the involvement of specialist arbitration body Sport Resolutions.

PRL launched a formal review in April following an exposé by Sportsmail into investment partnerships between Wray and star Saracens players, including England captain Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Billy and Mako Vunipola.

Sportsmail's investigation also included details of property-sharing arrangements between ex-Saracens players and Wray.