Ryan Stevenson has ‘no regrets’ at return to Hearts

Despite the possibility that the wages of Hearts players might be delayed again this week, Ryan Stevenson has stressed that he has no regrets about returning to the Tynecastle club.

The striker went on strike last year over unpaid wages and left to join Ipswich Town in January. He made a surprise return this season, only to walk into a fresh financial crisis.

“That was always the perception, that I was a bit silly in coming back,” he said, after yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. “But I think everyone has learned lessons from what happened last year. The club has learned lessons and the players have learned lessons. We had a meeting yesterday [Friday] and the main thing is that everyone was up front with each other. The directors and Sergejus [Fedotovas] have been honest with us, that’s all you can ask for. We know the club is in trouble. We don’t want it to die either.

“That is why I came back, because the club is the second biggest in the SPL,” he added. “We have got amazing fans. You will see that at Tynecastle next week [against St Mirren], when the game is already sold out. From a personal point of view, and for football reasons, it was the best decision to come back.”

Hearts manager John McGlynn said after yesterday’s game: “It’s difficult to get inside every player’s head, they all have responsibilities to their families and financial commitments.

“But we try and stay positive and prepare professionally. I have to say the players dug in for the football club today and fought right to the death.”