Pay delays unfair on Hearts players and staff, says Stuart McCall

By LISA GRAY
Published on 20/10/2012 00:51

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall believes the ongoing financial turmoil at Hearts under majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov is unfair on their players and staff.

The Edinburgh club have again failed to pay monthly wages on time, with manager John McGlynn and six first-team players given assurances their overdue salaries would arrive by the close of business last night.

Wages were delayed four times last season and September’s breach triggered a transfer embargo under new Scottish Premier League regulations, with the SPL board set to discuss the situation at Hearts at a meeting on Monday. McCall has sympathy for those at the Gorgie club who are having to work under difficult conditions but believes there does have to be some sanctions.

Speaking as the two side prepare to meet tomorrow, the Fir Park manager said: “I think there’s got to be something. For the club itself, it’s deeply disappointing for the Hearts players, staff and supporters to see what’s going on there.

“They certainly came through it last season, winning the Scottish Cup in style. They’ve got experienced players and they’ve still got a lot of strength. John will look it and say they’ve lost players and they needed to get people in. They’ve had a couple of boosts in the last month or so, getting the boy Ryan Stevenson in, who has been there, knows the SPL and he’s a good player.

“Ryan McGowan decided not to go to Rangers and stay and that was a boost. And to get Rudi Skacel back training with them will probably give them a boost.

“From our point of view, I’m glad he can’t be signed and play against us. Some sort of rules have got to be made – the owners can’t keep doing this. It’s unfair on the club itself.”

Stevenson was targeted by McCall in the last transfer window, before the player opted for a return to Tynecastle, where he has now encountered similar problems to the ones which resulted in his departure. McCall said: “We were hopeful of getting him. The lad made his decision and I understand why he made the decision to go to Hearts. It’s not irked me, no.”