Hearts stars in wage row

HAT-TRICK: Hearts players train ahead of tomorrow's clash against St Mirren

This month's wages were five days late in arriving in players' bank accounts. Monthly salaries were due to be paid last Saturday, October 16, but because that was not a business day they were expected to be processed the previous day.

However, players did not actually receive their wages until Wednesday and were given no reason for the delay.

Despite payments arriving late on other occasions earlier this year, a Hearts spokesperson said: "There is no issue with wage payments at Hearts as all players have been paid this month."

The SPFA is now monitoring the situation and is aware Hearts are in breach of contract with players when they fail to pay salaries on time. But, in legal terms, the breach is nullified once payment goes through.

Hearts twice failed to pay players on time in 2008. The club blamed a technical error in September that year but did not offer a reason when it happened again three months later.

Manager Jim Jefferies, meanwhile, has moved to reassure supporters that Marius Zaliukas' new contract will be signed imminently. The club captain was said to have verbally agreed a permanent move to Tynecastle from FBK Kaunas last week but the deal is not yet concluded.

He played in last weekend's win over Aberdeen after being frozen out of first-team affairs by the Hearts hierarchy for refusing to sign a new contract. "It will just run its course, we aren't anticipating any problems," said Jefferies, who will again include Zaliukas against St Mirren tomorrow.

A late decision will be taken on Ian Black, who has a broken bone in his hand, but David Obua, Scott Robinson, Lee Wallace and Andy Driver remain absent through injury.