PFA explores possibility of Hearts players walking away from club

THE players’ union is investigating whether Hearts players would be able to walk away from the Tynecastle club if it can be demonstrated that there has been a breach of contract over the failure to pay players.

Hearts first team players have not been paid since their wages were due on 16 October, with no explanation given for the delay. Today has been suggested as another possible date of payment, but those waiting for their wages are not confident of progress.

PFA Scotland have been in touch with Hearts asking for reasons why their members have not been paid, and when the wage bill is going to be settled, but these questions have not been answered.

Now the union is seeking advice from Fifa on what would constitute breach of contract without just cause, which could allow the players to seek a new club. Much would depend on whether Hearts won’t pay, or can’t pay.

Claiming breach of contract is a difficult option to pursue, but some players feel they will soon have nothing to lose and are being left with no option.

The union is also likely to take the matter up with the Scottish Premier League this week, as all available avenues are explored.

Last night’s development on the wages situation came at the end of another extraordinary day even by Hearts’ standards. In the space of 30 frantic minutes yesterday afternoon, the Scottish Football Association issued two notices of complaint relating to Saturday’s match with Kilmarnock at Tynecastle.

The first saw left-back Danny Grainger banned for two matches for an alleged stamp on Dean Shiels which was missed by the referee. The second saw Hearts manager Paulo Sergio reported for unacceptable conduct which saw him sent to the stand. Another trip to Hampden beckons for Sergio. He’s due at the national stadium tomorrow to answer separate charges. If Sergio is found guilty on both counts he faces a lengthy touchline ban.

In between the two SFA missives, club owner Vladimir Romanov weighed in with a typically erratic statement which, in short, declared that the game with Kilmarnock was a farce, that Scottish football was dying on its backside and that there was no point in him pumping in any more of his millions.

In a statement posted on the club website yesterday, Romanov branded Scottish football a soap opera “where lead roles are played by the teams from Glasgow, the national association, league, media, referees, and the teams who agree to participate in the show”. He lambasted the state of the game in this country and cast doubt on his continued involvement with Hearts, despite his provisional plans for a new stadium.

“Entrepreneurs and various large businesses turned their backs on that sort of football and left this national heritage to the mercy of its own fate,” Romanov said. “That sort of outrage from the media, federation and tax authorities kills everyone who is trying to change this situation including ourselves who are ready to invest in Scotland once again with stadium plans.

“And no one is interested in what’s going on. This is why I think that there is no point is spending millions to watch someone else’s show.”

Despite the club’s self-imposed ban on speaking to the media, Romanov spouted forth last weekend’s match.

“The game against Kilmarnock was another show,” Romanov said. “Following on from the investigation of Paulo Sergio for legitimate comments he has made [about referee Iain Brines and the League Cup tie with Ayr United], it simply shows how the media is running, or should that be ruining, Scottish football.

“Ian Black’s sending off played its part and the whole game against Kilmarnock turned into farce. For a hand ball of the opponent we were not given a penalty, however Kilmarnock got theirs, but what for – as it is not clear why the ‘guilty player’ was allowed to play on? As a result, Hearts lost the game again.”

Sergio is accused of an alleged breach of rule 203, which relates to misconduct by a member of team staff, including acts such as continued use of offensive, abusing or insulting language or behaviour and adoption of aggressive behaviour towards a match official. Sergio is also the subject of a notice of complaint in relation to alleged comments made about Brines in September.

Romanov, meanwhile, signed off with a withering assessment of the Scottish game. “We watch football degrading in its homeland,” he said. “There are practically no high-quality Scottish players left, Scottish clubs don’t play in Europe and the national team doesn’t get into the finals of championships. Scottish football ranks alongside Armenia, Panama and Burkina Faso.”