Shiels expecting Hearts to display a ‘siege mentality’

WITH senior Hearts players still waiting to be paid the wages they were due on 16 October, the mood in the Tynecastle camp is the burning question ahead of tomorrow’s SPL match with Kilmarnock.

Supporters are entitled to be concerned, as they wonder if their attendance money will be well-spent this weekend.

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio said yesterday that confidence is high, although indications from within the squad suggest that morale leaves a lot to be desired, which would not be a surprise. Failing to pay the wages is not a renowned motivational technique.

But there was backing for Sergio’s assessment yesterday from Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels, who believes Hearts will be boosted by “high negative energy” as a result of their off-field issues when both sides meet at Tynecastle tomorrow.

Rather than face a team in disarray, Shiels expects an even tougher challenge than usual at Tynecastle against a side who have won four of their six homes games.

He said: “They will have high negative energy, it will be good for them.

“What will come out of that is a siege mentality – ‘even though we’re not getting paid we have to show our supporters that we’re not just here for the money’.

“I’ve seen it happen so much. It actually helps more than anything in terms of work ethic and the things that happen on the pitch.”

The Killie manager added: “I think they will be in a good emotional state, definitely.”

As well as trying to deal with the issue of unpaid wages, Hearts are also operating a media blackout ahead of Sergio’s disciplinary hearing with the Scottish Football Association on 3 November.

Former Hearts player Donald Ford said yesterday that the negativity created by recent events will do the club no favours.

“There’s so much going on though, sadly, much is of a negative, rather than positive, nature,” said Ford. “Hearts’ salary situation is certainly a perfect example although – and this may sound glib – I left the dressing-room at 3pm on a Saturday with nothing else on my mind than playing as well as I could and winning the game. Having said that, I didn’t have to face a situation like this one.

“The bonus for winning was not huge, though it was nice if you had done the job to look forward to collecting it the following week. I would be surprised, with basic player salary levels where they are now, if the bonus aspect concerns them as much. But they will be concerned about not getting paid their basic wage. I don’t believe the situation is sustainable. Perhaps, the cracks are beginning to appear? Time will tell.”

Unhappy Hearts players are still considering their options, having been told that their wages might not be paid until next week.