Hearts players’ pay dispute: Hearts charged by SPL over late wages
Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov has said he wishes to sell the club
THE Scottish Premier League last night instigated formal disciplinary proceedings against Hearts despite the insistence of the Tynecastle club they are not in breach of an order to pay their players on time this month.
The governing body and Hearts found themselves firmly at odds with each other during a day of claim and counter-claim as the long-running saga over late payment of salaries to first-team squad members dragged on.
Early in the afternoon, the SPL released their first statement of the day in which they said they had “received confirmation from Heart of Midlothian that the club has failed to comply” with the order made on 4 January to ensure full payment of January wages to the 14 players who had lodged a complaint were made by the due date of 16 January.
That deadline fell at midnight on Monday and despite claims from Hearts that the salaries had been processed and were on their way to the players, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster made it clear clarification would be sought on Tuesday.
Following the SPL’s initial statement yesterday, which also revealed an emergency board meeting had been convened to decide upon the next course of action, Hearts responded with a firm denial that wages had been paid late once more.
“The club totally refutes the suggestion from the SPL that it failed to comply with this order,” read the Hearts statement. “The club has made payment of the remuneration to each of the players on 16th January 2012 and has documentary evidence to this effect.”
But the SPL remained unsatisfied as the manner in which the payments were processed from Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov’s bank in Lithuania meant the money would not reach the players’ accounts until after the deadline.
The SPL board, comprising Doncaster, chairman Ralph Topping, Eric Riley (Celtic), Stephen Thompson (Dundee United), Derek Weir (Motherwell) and Steven Brown (St Johnstone) held their meeting by telephone conference call before announcing the decision to press charges against Hearts.
“The Scottish Premier League Board met this evening to consider the alleged failure by Heart of Midlothian FC to comply with the terms of the order made by the SPL on 4 January 2012 that the club pay the January wages due to the relevant players on the due date of 16 January 2012,” read the SPL’s second statement of the day. “As a result, Heart of Midlothian FC are being charged under SPL Rule A3.1 with failing to behave with the utmost good faith to the SPL. A hearing date will be notified to the club in due course.”
The full text of the SPL rule Hearts are alleged to have breached states that “In all matters and transactions relating to the League and Company each Club shall behave towards each other Club and the Company with the utmost good faith”.
Hearts last night issued a further response, making it clear they will contest the charge laid against them. “The club has noted the decision of the SPL this evening and will defend its position at the appropriate time,” said the statement. “The club will make no further comment on the matter.”
There are a wide and unlimited range of sanctions the SPL can impose on Hearts if they find them guilty at the hearing. They include the lower end punishment of a reprimand or fine, through points deductions and transfer embargos, or any other action the board feels is appropriate.
If the SPL allegation is upheld, it will be the fourth consecutive month that Hearts have failed to pay their players on time. The players’ October wages were not received until 4 November; their November salaries were delayed until 15 December, following part-payments to some of the players of £1,000 earlier in the month; and December salaries were paid on 4 January, the day the SPL sub-committee met at Hampden to make their order.
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Comments
There are 323 comments to this article
Page 1 of 22
Peterperfect
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 07:22 PMTOTT - You are way out your depth so end it, seriously as I value well being!! On a different note, this is classic and typical of the last several years to bring a great club to its knees!! Hearts players happy over wages - striker Kevin Kyle
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:41 PMSorry John ...split my response....something in there it does not like....... I give up !
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:40 PMComment removed by moderator
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:38 PMComment removed by moderator
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:36 PMPending Moderation
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:34 PMJohn ....it comes across that you are more interested in expressing perceived negative views of HEARTS than the obvious 'crisis' at Hibs. That IMO reflects someone that is not a 'real' supporter.Just an opinion. No idea why you think HEARTS fans think HEARTS exist to simply beat HIBS . If that was the case I would consider HEARTS incredibly succesfull. I don't . I think in general we underperform. Beatng Hibs is just something Hearts fans have come to expect for kindae obvious reasons. I disagree Hibs compete within their financial limitations. That would mean you would be the 4th best performing SPL side. You are not U R 6th behind Killie. Currently(IE over 2 seasons) U R the worst performing SPL side. If U think thats OK then fine it is not for me to tell you how you should feel.
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:32 PMComment removed by moderator
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:30 PMComment removed by moderator
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:24 PMJohn H...polite response to your polite post......no idea why PM. Will have another go !!!
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:22 PMComment removed by moderator
Sir Brian Hine QC
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 04:23 PMI really do wish there was such a phrase as a 'lowest common denominator posters' - the ravings of the RACIST BIGOT would make so much more sense if that phrase even existed in the English language.....what a twonk. Hated by his own fans for his racist bigoted comments, revered by the Hibs fans....oh dear, I feel a laugh coming on....... On the football side, the madman, as we all knew (except titt) can not find a buyer and guess what.........Eh, I think I'll stay with hearts........another twonk. I must say, I do find it amusing that the RACIST BIGOT is so obsessed with me and trying to defeat me that he now brings me into nearly every post he mis-spells......twonk
John H
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 03:42 PMToTT @ 298 Your opinion of me not being a Hibernian supporter is wrong.I am and always will be and believe this I am proud to be.We Hibernian supporters have been through hard times in the past and no doubt will do so again but we do see the bigger picture. The Club does not exist just to play against any one team like you and your ilk seem to think Hearts do but to play in a competitive league to the best of their ability and within the financial limits of competent business. Your blind support of all things Hearts and the sheer denial that there is any problem with your chosen Club beggars belief. Your Club's whole existence is in the hands of a proven unreliable and confirmed flawed business man who has shown time and time again that he will not accept authority unless he is the driving force behind it. Well rules are rules and no business is worthy of existing unless it pays it's way and that includes HMRC taxes.Many have stated on these threads regards the lack of media coverage given to Rangers current problems but do they not understand that at this very time and running into next week the tribunal is deliberating on the case. There will be plenty in the media after the outcome is declared one way or the other but the truth is both Hearts and Rangers brought this on themselves by shamelessly using monies due to the Tax man to the benefit of their playing squads.Football is a business not a charity and should be run accordingly.
Tam O'Banter
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 02:33 PMChildren! Chidren! School's back is it no'?
VladMagic
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 02:28 PM#308 Just remember mate they are Trolls. Nothing more, nothing less. Trolls. No job, prospects, girlfriends, friends, careers, nothing. Just a voice which they use to shout really loudly on here because they have NOTHING better to do. I feel sorry for them.
Hen Broon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 02:05 PM#307 Many Thanks VLAD..... 3 respected JAMBOS going out their way to compliment me & the many Hibs(real fans) who have done likewise more than compensates for the abuse I receive . Condemnation fromTT, Yak, sirB ,Baldrick etc I take as a compliment as they are simply the lowest common denominator posters who are incapable of adult debate. TBH I was hoping that TT or SIR B would have taken me up on my offer ogf simaltaneous retirement but i think it says more about them than me that they actually believe that their voice should be heard.
Page 1 of 22
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