The Tynecastle exodus continues with the news that winger Andrew Driver has tabled a transfer request and is keen to be on the move next month, according to his agent.
Former England Under-21 player Driver was deleted from the squad for Saturday's 4-0 win over Dunfermline after telling manager Paulo Sergio he wanted a move in January amid frustration at a lack of first-team opportunities.
His agent, Scott Fisher, said that Driver wanted to take the next step in his career at another club and had made his request formal.
Fisher said: "Andrew has been a loyal servant to Hearts. I saw some things that the manager said about his loyalty and commitment. Nobody questioned these things when the club turned down two great offers for the player. Or when the player was turning up at his work every single day and making himself available for selection on Saturdays and not being paid.
If somebody doesn't like you or want you to play, you find a solution. A written transfer request has been put to Hearts. We would be looking to leave in January on a loan or a permanent deal. If that doesn't happen, he remains an employee of the club and will give 100% for Hearts as he always has done."
The SPL panel will rule early next month on the complaint made by Hearts players about delayed wage payments. The SPL board discussed the issue at a meeting on Monday which had been scheduled before the complaint was received on Friday.
A statement read: "The SPL board today considered the complaint from PFA Scotland on behalf of several PFA Scotland members. An SPL sub-committee will adjudicate on the complaint at a hearing on January 4. No further comment will be issued until after the hearing."
Hearts' first-team players suffered major delays in receiving wages for the last two months and the club were due to pay their next salary on 16 December.
After a 19-day delay in the October payments, the players waited almost a full month for the vast majority of their November wages. They were eventually paid last Thursday, just after they signed a letter of permission allowing PFA Scotland to represent them.
The union, who had previously failed to persuade the Scottish football authorities to intervene, submitted a complaint to the SPL after the December wages were not received on the scheduled day. PFA Scotland said the move had the full backing of the dressing room.
Yesterday afternoon SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "What is important now that this a live legal issue, it is sub-judice and until the hearing we are limited in what we can say. It is clearly an issue that is being taken seriously by the SPL board."
PFA chief executive Fraser Wishart released a statement thanking the SPL for dealing with the matter so quickly. He said: "Our members are delighted that the SPL will adjudicate upon their complaint early in the new year.
It is clear that the SPL board agrees that, unlike other contractual issues, this is not a matter that can take some time to deal with as our members continue to play without their December salary.
It is our hope that the directors of Heart of Midlothian FC are able to source funding to pay the wages immediately and the complaint can be withdrawn as this is the only aim of our members action."
Source: FOOTYMAD
