Brown: No Hearts money worries

21 July 2011 12:01
Hearts assistant manager Billy Brown has played down the significance of the club's failure to pay the squad's wages on time this month.[LNB] The Jambos' playing staff are also still waiting on bonuses from last season, but Brown insisted there was nothing "sinister" about the late payments.[LNB]"Wages have been paid," said Brown.[LNB]"They were a couple of days late, which happens with the structure of the club.[LNB]"There was nothing sinister in it and everyone was quite happy and satisfied.[LNB]"I think the players understand the situation, I don't think there was a great problem.[LNB]"I think it was blown out of proportion and I haven't heard anyone mention it at training this week.[LNB]"I know there has been issues throughout the summer but there is issues at every football club.[LNB]"But [manager] Jim Jefferies, [coach] Gary Locke and I are completely focused on what we are doing and it is a minor distraction as far we concerned."[LNB]Brown, who is preparing for this weekend's SPL opener against Rangers at Ibrox, added that the deferment of bonuses was due to a pending appeal to the Scottish Football Association over a disciplinary fine of £100,000.[LNB]"The bonus situation is an ongoing thing," he said. "The disciplinary fine is taken out the bonuses, which was agreed at the start of the season.[LNB]"That fine has been appealed - it was £100,000 - so once that appeal is heard it will be sorted out.[LNB]"I don't think it is a great problem, I think it has been magnified out of proportion."

Source: Team_Talk