Hearts in administration: John Sutton upset by claims he is a money-grabber after refusing pay cut

Motherwell on Monday unveiled striker John Sutton as their fourth summer signing (Iain Vigurs, Paul Lawson and Fraser Kerr being the others) but, while happy to rejoin the Steelmen, the player was at pains to stress that he had not done the dirty on previous club Hearts.

Sutton is upset that he has been portrayed in some quarters as a money-grabber who walked out on the Edinburgh institution following their descent into administration.

The Englishman had moved from Fir Park to Tynecastle in the summer of 2011 but was given an immediate insight into the lunacy which characterised Vladimir Romanov’s reign when Jim Jefferies, the manager who had signed him, was dismissed three games into the new campaign.

Sutton was frozen out under his successor, Paulo Sergio, and sent to Australian club Central Coast Mariners on loan in January of last year.

He returned to Edinburgh and found favour under the club’s next two managers, John McGlynn and Gary Locke, ending 2012-13 as Hearts’ top scorer with eight goals from 23 starts.

Sutton also bought into the share issue which raised £1 million and helped them to complete the season before being declared insolvent: consequently, he resents accusations that he was merely a mercenary.

“I donated from bonuses to the shares,” said the 29-year-old. “Like all the boys, we gave two per cent of our wages to help fund the youth development at Hearts.

“The players [deserve] a fair bit of credit but maybe that doesn’t come across at times and players are portrayed as being selfish but I know they were desperate for the club to succeed.

“We agreed to numerous wage deferrals and, to a man, we really backed the club when we had the option [to leave] or chances to be more aggressive in our stance.”

Sutton maintains his sanity by steering away from online football forums.

“I don’t go on fan sites,” he said. “I only talked to my neighbours who were mostly Hearts fans.

“They have been supportive and good to me. There will always be people with another opinion but I know I gave my best throughout my time there.

“At the end of the season I was told I was in the plans at Hearts.

“Administration was maybe on the horizon and we all knew the potential 15-point penalty but I was looking forward to a new season at Hearts and I felt that, under the new manager, things were starting to pick up.

“I felt hopeful for the next year then a week or so later my representative got a call. He was told I wasn’t wanted anymore and it would be better if I found a new club.

“At that stage it wasn’t nice. I asked my agent to call the club back to check that because it was contrary to what I’d heard a little while earlier but that was the case.”

From being told he could find another club, Sutton was then informed he could stay – but it is understood that his wages would be cut by 50 per cent. With the arrival of a third child, that prospect was unappetising.

“When administration hit it might sound corny but the first people you feel for are the fans,” he said.

“They saved the club last year and they gave us a really good chance to do well there. If they hadn’t put their hand in their pocket last autumn I’d never have got chance to play in the League Cup final.

“On Friday I spoke to Gary Locke, who I’d really enjoyed playing for. He described what was on the table, I spoke to a few people and told them it wasn’t for me.

“As it turns out, me not being there has allowed Danny Wilson to stay. I know he’s a player they were really keen to keep. So hopefully that has turned out well for them.”

Wilson was able to beat the transfer embargo imposed on the club because, due to his spell on loan from Liverpool last season, he was not considered to be a new registration.

Billy Brown, twice an assistant to Jefferies at Tynecastle, also confirmed that he will fulfil the same role under Locke next season after agreeing to work for nothing.

"It's an absolute no-brainer for me,” said Locke, on a day when First Minister Alex Salmond announced that he would be purchasing two season tickets. A fans’ rally at Tynecastle on Sunday also raised £30,000.

However, Hearts now face possible sanctions from the Scottish Football Association for entering administration, with a hearing set for Hampden on July 18.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk