Hearts players’ wages: Overdue March salaries paid in full

HEARTS yesterday paid another set of overdue wages nearly a fortnight after the money should have been deposited in the players’ accounts. It is the fifth time this season that the Tynecastle club have stretched the patience of staff.

The players were given notice that they would again have to suffer the consequences of cashflow problems at the club just a few hours before the 16th day of the month, when they were due to be paid.

Nevertheless, Hearts have managed to win two of the three games they have played since then, with last week’s William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final victory over St Mirren bringing a financial boost to the club, since it secures a semi-final meeting with Celtic on 15 April.

Financial worries have also been eased by the start of season ticket sales last Friday. Over 2,500 were sold on the first day.

The club released a statement on March 16 to confirm the delay in the payment of salaries and criticised fringe players who decided against leaving the club in January, and who were accused of “electing to stagnate”.

Hearts avoided the prospect of unlimited sanctions from the Scottish Premier League after three successive months of delays in January, but only after proving the payment had been made by the required due date.