Six Hearts players hit by wages delay

* Ewan Murray

Heart of Midlothian's players face uncertainty over whether or not they will receive their weekly wages tomorrow because of serious cash flow problems at the club's parent company.

Wages did not arrive in players' bank accounts last Friday, a matter which was resolved for all but six of the squad on Monday. Those six, among whom are the highest earners at Tynecastle, agreed following talks with the club's sport director, Anatoly Korobochka, to have their salaries deferred until cash issues at the Lithuania-based Ukio Bankas Investment Group are rectified. In September, a similar wage delay occurred.

There are no guarantees any of the players will be paid again today and a club official was "hopeful" rather than certain of wages arriving on time.

Hearts insiders say the club should alleviate problems by selling at least one player during the January transfer window. Bids are understood to already have been received for first-team players including Laryea Kingston, who has interested Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers. Christophe Berra, Hearts' biggest asset, has been linked with Fulham.

The present scenario will be embarrassing for Vladimir Romanov, who controls both Hearts and UBIG. Documentation passed to the Guardian shows a UBIG director's attempts to offer Hearts hospitality and sponsorship as an alternative to paying a £10,000 bill in Edinburgh.

Hearts, meanwhile, are suffering on account of handing exorbitant contracts to players in the last three years. As it stands, 10 of a squad which exceeds 60 account for 50% of the wage bill. Within the last month, Hearts have started paying their players directly from Lithuania, Previously, money was transferred via the club's current account with Halifax Bank of Scotland.

On the field, Csaba Laszlo has guided the Edinburgh outfit to five victories in a row and third place in the Scottish Premier League.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer