Hearts squad back down after advice from Paulo Sergio

It is understood that a grievance letter had been drafted but, with a PFA Scotland representative already on site at Riccarton yesterday to collect the signatures, union members performed an unexpected U-turn, prompted, they say, by the intervention of the head coach.

Up to 20 members had intended to add their signatures to the complaint but, with a few already wary of possible repercussions, the Portuguese is believed to have spoken to his squad and asked them not to go ahead with the petition. Speaking to the squad prior to leaving for his SFA disciplinary hearing at Hampden, Sergio informed the playing staff that he had spoken with the director Sergejus Fedetovas and had been given assurances that the wages would be in their bank accounts within “a few working days”. But some players then feared that, if they did not back down from their proposed standpoint, it would jeopardise the chances of the money ever materialising.

By that stage a number of players had already signed the letter but several had second thoughts after hearing their manager and asked to have their names removed. With a dwindling tally of players willing to progress the matter, it ended with a couple of first team regulars literally ripping up and binning the incriminating paperwork.

The players’ union issued a statement last night confirming the change of plan.

“PFA Scotland has been advising its members at Hearts in recent weeks with regard to the continued non-payment of their salaries,” read the statement. “Advice included the option of involving the SPL due to the breach of contract and the possibility of invoking Fifa Article 14 for breach of contract, with just cause.

“At a meeting today with Paulo Sergio, the players have agreed to postpone their complaint to the SPL in the first instance. This is due to the fact that Paulo, on behalf of the club, promised the players that they will be paid. Although no date was specified, the players trust their manager’s word and, as a gesture of good faith, the players agreed to postpone the complaint.”

It was an amazing volte face by the players who had been determined to press forward with their grievance after more than two weeks without any sign of their monthly salaries, which had been due in their bank accounts on 16 October. Three senior players met with a member of the board on Wednesday but were offered no guarantees or a concrete payment date, instead leaving the pow-wow with the impression that the club were looking to off-load high-earners as they struggled to meet all their financial obligations.

Club insiders have since dismissed talk of a “fire sale”, saying that the late wages are due to a timing issue rather than a funding issue. But they acknowledged that the continued non-payment is a troubling matter for the players.

So troubling, that the lack of assurances had pushed them towards action. The SPL had made it clear that they could not intervene unless they received a collective complaint from the players. However, the league authority had also stated that, should the players formally seek their assistance, there was no limit to the sanctions they could impose on the Tynecastle club and even suggested they may be able to divert funds due to the Gorgie outfit to the players to cover their outstanding pay.

This had encouraged the players, who have become fed up with the pattern of late wage payments, to be more proactive. Members of PFA Scotland instructed the union to draw up a formal complaint and agreed to set a deadline of today for the monies to be paid up in full. If not, the intention was to submit the letter. But yesterday that all changed, leaving PFA Scotland and the SPL unable to act and the players now have to simply hope their wages will appear before the end of next week, as promised. Few though are holding their breath and, if the promises are not delivered on, then they could revisit their formal complaint.

PFA Scotland chief executive, Fraser Wishart, attending the world players’ union FIFPro Congress said: “I’m delighted that the pressure applied by the Union has led to a commitment by the manager. Our members have no wish to resort to legal action. They simply want paid.

“They have shown a great deal of patience and professionalism throughout. If, however, the salaries are not forthcoming they reserve the right to instruct PFA Scotland to involve the SPL and take any other action that is appropriate. I have been speaking to some of the world’s top sports lawyers at the congress and our members are privileged to have this expert knowledge to hand.”

Meanwhile a senior club source dismissed reports of a “fire sale”, although he admitted that, like every other club, Hearts would be willing to sell any of their players for the correct price. It is understood the club is keen to reduce the wage bill but insist they were working to that end long before the current crisis and are adamant that they have not been trying to offload prime assets at knockdown prices.

“Actually far from it,” said one agent, who did not want to be named. “They are looking to offload some of them but they are not being realistic in their selling price. They are still supposedly looking for around £3 million for Andrew Driver, a player who has been in and out the team with injury and more than £1 million for other players who are out of contract at the end of the season and could sign with another club in January and ultimately leave for nothing.”

A winding-up petition against the club was formally dismissed at the Court of Session in Edinburgh yesterday. Papers were lodged on 29 July by the Advocate General for Scotland on behalf of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Hearts confirmed on 16 August that they had paid up after being threatened with administration. The case was on yesterday’s court proceedings, but was dismissed.