Callum Tapping: 'Hearts squad is together - on and off the pitch'

Hearts midfielder Callum Tapping believes the squad has taken its wage delays on the chin – and they will use the experience to make themselves a better team.

The 20-year-old revealed the players have been given assurances that their July pay will arrive next week, following a rush of ticket sales and fundraising by supporters.

The fans have raised more than £750,000 to keep Hearts afloat during administration and Tapping paid tribute to the effort.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youth said: “[The administrators] have told us what will happen – what they need and what we’ll get – and all the boys seem happy.

“We’ve been told what we’ve been told and hopefully it’ll come through on the 16th.

“It is difficult but everyone’s in the same boat. We had to take it on the chin.

“The fans have been brilliant raising money for us to get the wages paid for the next month.”

Tapping looks set for a central role in Hearts’ campaign to overturn a 15 point deficit and beat relegation, with fellow youth academy products Scott Robinson and Jason Holt alongside him.

The Scotland Under-21 players believes the understanding that the trio fostered coming through the ranks can only help the team.

Tapping said: “All the young boys coming through have played together for the last two or three years and morale is brilliant.

“The team chemistry is good and that can only be positive for the club.

“We all just want to show what we can do and prove to ourselves the reason why we’re here at Hearts.”