Hearts finally pay outstanding wages to players - but still no bonus money as cash-flow fears continue

David McCarthy

HEARTS avoided another wages crisis yesterday by paying their players on time.

But the stars who have recorded five wins in a row are still waiting for their bonus money.

Six players who had their wages deferred last week were also brought up to date with their salaries but uncertainty continues to surround Vladimir Romanov's club, which has major cash-flow worries.

Hearts had hoped that an imminent cash instalment from Sunderland as part of Craig Gordon's £9million transfer would have eased the situation but the keeper's ankle injury may keep him sidelined and prevent him chalking up the number of games needed to activate a £350,000 payment from the Premiership club.

There was relief yesterday when players found that their weekly wages had been paid into their bank accounts ahead of today's clash with Motherwell.

But the win bonus issue remains unresolved and midfielder Michael Stewart revealed that talks about the restructuring of the bonus payments is now under way between the playing staff and Vladimir Romanov.

It is believed players met Hearts sporting director Anatoli Korobochka yesterday before training to discuss the issue - they are missing the last four win bonuses - and Stewart insisted that the squad are comfortable with the situation.

He said: "Wages have been paid but the bonus situation is under discussion. At the start of the season, the new management wanted to implement a bonus scheme which the board accepted.

"Three weeks ago, there was discussion about renegotiating that. Having spoken to the hierarchy in Edinburgh, we have been assured that the bonuses will be paid very shortly.

Wrangle "The ones that are backdated will be paid up within the next couple of weeks.

"They are very happy with the way things are going. We had a meeting this morning about the bonuses and to be assured that the wages had been paid.

"Anyone who was due money got it in their accounts this morning."

Stewart is adamant that the players are more interested in keeping their winning run going than the wage wrangle.

He added: "Genuinely, it does not concern me.

"We want playerswho will concentrate on what is happening on the pitch then you can maybe move on to bigger and better things.

"You might go and earn millions of pounds a year elsewhere so there is no point worrying about not being paid one week here.

"I would take an educated guess that there are quite a few players for whom money is the most important thing.

"There are none at this club from what I have experienced.

"The focus is on football - anything that happens off the pitch is outwith our control.

There is no point wasting our energy on it.

"Players didn't receive their money last week and it didn't seem to affect them on Saturday.

"Money is not the be-all and end-all and if it is, that's when people have problems.

"The most important thing at this club is to win games.

We are on a fantastic run of five wins on the bounce.

"We are the third biggest club in the country. I don't see it as a big issue."

Taken from the Daily Record