Hearts players paid March wages

28 March 2012 16:16

Hearts' first-team squad and staff have received their overdue March wages in full, Press Association Sport understands.

Salaries were significantly delayed for the fourth time this season on March 16, but now owed monies have been paid ahead of Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at home to Aberdeen.

Hearts avoided the prospect of unlimited sanctions from the Scottish Premier League after three successive months of delays in January, but only after proving the payment had been made by the required due date.

In confirming the delay earlier this month, Hearts attacked fringe players who declined the opportunity to leave Tynecastle in January and insisted the squad costs would be reduced at the end of the season, bringing the issue to an end.

A statement on March 16 read: "It is unfortunate that it was outwith the power of the club to persuade some remaining fringe players to leave early as they elected to stagnate, preferring to take the club's money while offering very little or nothing in return.

"This is an issue that the club will resolve to a large extent at the end of the season and at that point we would expect that payment delays should be eradicated."

Hearts beat St Mirren in a televised William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final replay last week to advance to a Hampden semi-final with Celtic in a match which is also likely to bring in revenue.

Source: PA