Saracens chairman Nigel Wray today hit back at critics who have accused him of allowing his club to become a South African-run franchise. And almost in the same breathe he revealed that Sarries will be playing high-profile Guinness Premiership games at Wembley next season.

Wray claims the decision to take matches against London Wasps and probably Harlequins to the stadium highlights the ambitious plans possible following the joint venture with SAIL, the South African investment company which paid £6million for a 50 per cent share in the club.

With up to 20 of the Saracens squad being dumped at the end of the season and the imminent arrival of up to eight South African players under Springbok Brendan Venter, the new director of rugby, Sarries have been accused of turning their back on English rugby.

Dean Richards, the Harlequins director of rugby, described the move as "disgraceful" after his side defeated Sarries on Saturday. It is understood that Wray has contacted Quins to express his anger at the jibe.

Wray, who has spent more than £15m of his own money keeping Sarries going over the past 14 years, is adamant the club could not have continued to lose more than £2m a year and still have been a viable operation without the South African investment.

He said: "I am not stepping away from this club and remain as chairman. The new investors are also lovers of rugby and this is joint venture.

"The chances of getting investment in any sports club during this current depression are nil. So to receive this kind of support is something other clubs will be very envious of.

"We cannot survive on our current attendances and that is why we are prepared to play at other venues - we have a lease on Vicarage Road until 2011. We have an opportunity to attract South African rugby fans and will be signing a few more outstanding South African players. However, we are also investing heavily in the continued production of English players.

"I regret every mistake I have made in the last 14 years and am the first to accept that things haven't been brilliant. Clearly, as a club, we have failed to change the culture of this city in which football is the main sport.

"But, we believe that by taking matches to Wembley, we can make the kind of impact Stade Francais have achieved bringing 80,000 fans to the Stade de France. Quins did well getting 50,000 to Twickenham this season and we want to make such an impact."

Wray knows the cull of the first-team squad has brought bad publicity to a club that have operated a revolving door recruitment policy that will see Eddie Jones, the director of rugby, leave at the end of the season.

He added: "I agree that our PR has not been great over the players leaving but we have been honest with them and will honour all contracts if they do not find new clubs. The club are prepared for short-term pain for long-term gain.

"Maybe I have been an idiot in the past and that's why we haven't done very well but we have no alternative but to take this action."