SPL to make ruling on Hearts wages at start of next month

By STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published on Tuesday 20 December 2011 02:16

THE Scottish Premier League will make a ruling at the start of next month on Hearts' repeated failure to pay their players salaries on time

The SPL board of directors yesterday considered the formal complaint lodged by PFA Scotland last Friday on behalf of the Hearts players who, for the third successive month, have not received their wages on the scheduled date.

A sub-committee of the SPL board will now sit on 4 January to decide on any action to be taken against the Tynecastle club.

The Scottish football authorities had been criticised for inaction over the issue but, as SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster confirmed last night, his organisation were unable to get involved until the Hearts players took action.

"It's now a sub-judicial matter as far as we are concerned, so I don't want to say too much more about it at the moment," said Doncaster. "But now we have received the formal complaint, we have effectively been empowered to act, so watch this space."

The SPL board of Doncaster, chairman Ralph Topping, Celtic director Eric Riley, St Johnstone chairman Steven Brown, Motherwell vice-chairman Derek Weir and Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson considered the complaint at Hampden yesterday.

They issued a brief statement which read: "The SPL board today considered the complaint from PFA Scotland on behalf of several PFA Scotland members. A sub-committee will adjudicate on the complaint at a hearing on 4 January."

PFA Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart praised the SPL's response and expressed the hope it will persuade Hearts to pay their players' December salary immediately in order for the protest to be dropped.

"Our members are delighted that the SPL will adjudicate upon their complaint early in the New Year," said Wishart. "It is clear that the SPL Board agrees that, unlike other contractual issues, this is not a matter that can take some time to deal with as our members continue to play without their December salary.

"It is our hope that the directors of Heart of Midlothian FC are able to source funding to pay the wages immediately and the complaint can be withdrawn as this is the only aim of our members' action."

Hearts players' wages are due on the 16th of each month but they did not receive their October wages until 4 November. An official complaint on that occasion was prevented by the intervention of manager Paulo Sergio, who persuaded the squad to postpone any action.

But their November salaries were not paid until 15 December, following a part-payment of £1000 at the start of this month. When their December wages were not paid on time last Friday, the players finally consented to PFA Scotland filing a formal complaint with the SPL.

Sir David Murray, meanwhile, has played down reports linking him with a takeover of the Tynecastle club for which Vladimir Romanov is now seeking a buyer. The former Rangers chairman and owner confirmed he has held discussions with unnamed parties regarding Hearts and potential interest in building a new stadium on land he owns in Edinburgh. But Murray made it clear the wrong conclusion has been reached in some quarters and insists he has no interest in taking charge of another club.

"Some people have put two and two together and come up with five," said Murray. "I've had talks with individuals who approached me about the Hearts situation in general and regarding land I own in the Hermiston area of Edinburgh.

"It's a 650-acre site where a sports stadium and other ventures could be built if planning approval was granted by the authorities.

"But I am categorically not involved in any takeover bid now and nor would I be interested at any time in the future. I had 23 years at Ibrox, during which time we won 15 titles and 26 trophies, and have no desire to own another club."

Taken from the Scotsman