Hearts players distance themselves from pay issue after win puts them in top six

HEARTS matchwinner Ryan Stevenson insisted last night that he and his team-mates were unconcerned by the late payment of bonuses which has led to an extension of the SPL’s transfer embargo on the Tynecastle club.

Two first-half goals by the midfielder, the second from the penalty spot, gave the home team a 2-1 win over Dundee United, for whom Keith Watson scored after the break.

Hearts had expected the embargo to end yesterday, as they had paid the squad’s wages on time this month, having earlier settled the deferred November salaries. But on Friday the league announced that the ban had been made indefinite after learning that appearance money and win bonuses from this season had yet to be paid. “The bonus payment thing – I don’t really know where the story came from,” he said. “The players were disappointed that it came out, and it sort of sounded as if the players were wanting their bonus payments.

“The players aren’t going to defer wages, buy shares for the club to try and help the club, and then ask for their bonus payments. It doesn’t make any sense.

“At the end of the day, the biggest thing is the football. For too long now at Hearts it’s always been about the off-field drama. It’s just nice we can go and concentrate on the football side. It was sort of put to bed for a wee while but now it’s come back up. But the players aren’t really bothered about it. The main thing is we feel we’ve been in a poor position, sitting ninth in the league, and this result has catapulted us up there.”

Hearts manager John McGlynn was just as delighted to kick off the festive programme with a win. “It was a hard-earned three points and over the piece we maybe just deserved it,” McGlynn said. “United were never really out the game, and we didn’t start the second half as well as I’d like. But I felt we defended very well and steadied very well, so it was a well-earned victory.”

After hovering just a few points above the relegation zone for some time, Hearts climbed three places as a result of the 2-1 victory, going ahead of St Johnstone and Kilmarnock, who they play on Boxing Day, as well as leapfrogging United. “The SPL is a crazy league this year,” McGlynn continued. “We’ve not been that consistent compared to some teams who have gone on unbeaten runs, although at the minute we’ve only had one defeat in seven – a defeat by Celtic. St Johnstone have been going well, so have Aberdeen and Hibs, and Inverness are flying. But it’s a funny, funny league, and you find yourself not that many points behind a lot of those teams.

“We’re delighted to climb and get into the top six. We appreciate Rugby Park will be difficult on Wednesday, but it’s nice to get three points on the board tonight and go down there with a feelgood factor and some confidence.”

Yesterday’s win has put Hearts above St Johnstone on goal difference, and taken them to within two points of Aberdeen and three of Hibs, who have received a lot of praise for their improved form this season. As things stand at present, next week’s Edinburgh derby could be a chance for Hearts to go above their Edinburgh rivals, but McGlynn refused to dwell too much on that prospect, enticing as it may be for his team’s supporters.

“We’d like perhaps to be in that position come the third of January, or where winning that derby could put us ahead of them. But we don’t have any control over how Hibs do between now and then. I’m not really looking at Hibs, to be honest with you: it’s what we do that will determine where we end up in the table.”

United manager Peter Houston also emphasised his team’s defensive shortcomings, but nonetheless argued that they had done enough to merit a point. “I can’t believe we never got anything from the game,” he said. “I thought we played quite well in the first half as well and again it comes down to an individual error. We found ourselves chasing the game and second half I thought we absolutely pummelled them.”

Houston refused to comment on an incident where Rudi Skacel had acknowledged applause from the Hearts support, to the displeasure of some United fans. But he did say that overall he had been very pleased with the midfielder’s contribution. “I thought he worked really hard and he’s been playing really well recently. It was his shot that we got the goal from. I thought he worked his socks off and nothing really broke for him today. I don’t put us losing today down to Rudi Skacel’s performance.”