Michael Stewart secures deal with Charlton

The 30-year-old Scotland cap was a free agent after negotiating his release from Turkish top-flight club Genclerbirligi in January and has been signed by Addicks manager Chris Powell following a successful trial spell.

Stewart had recently been training with Leeds United but manager Simon Grayson dropped his interest after red tape prevented him playing the former Hearts and Hibs midfielder in a reserve outing.

Powell said: "He's signed until the end of the season. I just felt that, with him being unattached, it was an attractive deal in itself.

"He's come to bolster the squad. I felt we needed that sort of strong midfielder in there and he comes into that category."

Edinburgh-born Stewart returned to Scotland at the turn of the year in the midst of a contract dispute with Genclerbirligi. The Turkish club refused to pay him during the time he was sidelined with an ankle injury and Stewart has taken the matter to Fifa in a bid to recoup the full value of his two-year deal.

Meanwhile, Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas insists payments will be processed in the next few days after it emerged yesterday that some players at Tynecastle have not received full bonus money due for winning matches this season. "When we have some more revenue and income we will distribute it to the players," said Fedotovas after a newspaper report revealed some first-team squad members are due between 2,000 and 3,000.