Hearts players not paid again

Hearts' preparations for Sunday's Edinburgh derby have been dealt a significant setback after players were told they will not receive their monthly wages today.

It is understood the club director, Vitalijus Vasiliauskas, broke the news to the squad after yesterday morning's training session at Riccarton.

No precise time was given on when they can expect their earnings although there is hope the issue may be resolved within a week.

The announcement did not come as a great surprise to the team given previous salary delays that have plagued the club this season, but certain players were angry that they were informed just hours before their wages were due to be transferred into their accounts.

The club successfully fought against a SPL charge of 'failing to behave with the utmost good faith to the SPL' when they failed to pay their players on time for the fourth successive month on January 16.

The wages arrived as scheduled in Feburary but the players have once again been left wondering when they will receive their monthly earnings.

The latest problem over pay comes just days before Hearts host Hibernian in the third derby of the season.

As he attempted to focus on preparations for the match, Gary Locke, the Hearts first-team coach, said: "It's a big, big game for the club, but we only get three points for winning it and that's what we intend to try to do. We all know what's at stake. Everybody here's had a taste of the derby and, hopefully, we can come out on top."

Taken from the Herald