Hearts players still waiting for wages

The Clydesdale Bank Premier League club failed to pay any of their squad on Friday, the second time this season players have been left out of pocket.

It is understood that a number of players, including several star names, have agreed for their wages to be deferred.

The hope is the deferred cash will be included in the players' next pay packets, which are due to be received on Dec 5.

However, the club have chosen not to offer an explanation for this latest twist in what is becoming a wages saga.

Problems first emerged in September when Hearts failed to pay both players and staff on time.

The matter was dismissed as a "technical" issue and all those affected eventually received the money, with the club confidently predicting the problem was "highly unlikely" to recur.

However, it emerged on Saturday that players again had not been paid.

This time, the club and officials at majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov's Ukio Bankas Investment Group – Hearts' parent company – stated it was simply a time delay and that salaries would be received on Monday.

Most players were paid at the rearranged time but it is understood several were summoned to a meeting with sporting director Anatoli Korobochka to ask if they would be prepared to defer payment.

When Hearts encountered problems paying staff two months ago, their players expressed no disquiet publicly over the issue.

Whether this latest twist changes that remains to be seen, but the Scottish Premier League confirmed at the weekend they would be obliged to investigate if one or more players made an official complaint.

Hearts players are not the only people claiming to be owed money by the Edinburgh side, with the Scottish Football Association confirming yesterday they had been asked to act as arbiter in a dispute between an agent of a Hearts player and the club.

The SFA are also involved in the row between Hearts and Arbroath, who are threatening to freeze the Jambos' gate receipts over the transfer of Andy Webster.

The Irn-Bru Second Division club, who sold the defender to Hearts in 2001, say they are owed more than £14,000 after his subsequent move to Wigan two years ago triggered a sell-on fee clause.

Arbroath claim Hearts have repeatedly assured them the money would be paid but have yet to act upon those promises.

"They owe us £14,437.50 plus VAT," Arbroath secretary Gary Callon told BBC Scotland.

"We're really frustrated. It may not be a lot of money to Hearts, but it is to us and there are a lot of good things we could do to the ground and for players with it. It's been dragging on for several years now.

"The Scottish FA has reported them to the general purposes committee and there could be implications for them in not being able to deal in the transfer market, and even being thrown out of Europe unless they pay."

Former Hearts chairman George Foulkes, who brought Romanov to the club but resigned just over three years ago in protest against decisions made by him, responded with dismay to the latest developments.

"Those of us who are supporters are very anxious to do nothing to destabilise the club in any way," he said.

"We've just had our best run on the field since [former manager] George Burley left, with five victories in a row – including over Rangers.

"That is why all of us are looking at these reports with dismay.

"There have been reassurances from people on behalf of the owners but there still is cause for concern.

"It's difficult to know how to react to it because everyone who supports the club desperately wants it to succeed on and off the field.

"There's no indication there's any individual or any group of people ready to take over and, therefore, it's absolutely vital Romanov is able to continue to provide the resources necessary to keep the club going."

Foulkes said he had experienced problems himself transferring money from one country to another, claiming problems could be caused by something as simple as "someone pressing the wrong key".

But he added: "I think once is understandable; twice is probably forgivable; if it was to happen again a third time then people would get really worried."

Foulkes was loathe to spark fears Hearts might be in financial difficulty, saying: "I would be really worried about anything that might be said or done to precipitate a crisis.

"That's why we all have to be careful, including me, what we say.

"A lot of clubs are facing financial difficulties at the moment, with wages having risen, revenue having reduced, and the credit crunch."

Taken from telegraph.co.uk