SPL get tough with Hearts

The SPL hearing, instigated by the players union, has ruled that Hearts must pay all outstanding wages by 11th January - plus interest - and that the club must also pay legal costs of the hearing itself. In addition, they have insisted that January salaries are paid on time and in full on the 16th . Failure to meet these conditions will invoke a "penalty process" - which could be in the form of a fine or a points deduction

Ironically, Hearts issued a brief statement on the same day saying that the 14 players affected have now been paid up to date - claiming that the timing was purely co-incidental and was the result of "successful business".

So everyone can breathe one sigh of relief. But that leaves 3 other conditions still to be met - additional interest, legal fees and the prompt payment of January salaries.

Hearts have said they will "carefully consider" the ruling, and they have 7 days to appeal it. These next couple of weeks will be tense for the fans because of all this. The "get tough" stance of the SPL could fizzle out if Hearts are able to return to normal wage payments - however if the saga has somehow been engineered by Romanov to gain a kind of revenge against the Scottish football "mafia", then we could see further embarrassing episodes - especially since he won`t take kindly to Hearts being ordered to pay legal costs as a penalty. For the fans (and players), a points deduction would be a disaster which would plunge the club into the relegation battle with Hibs. However, would Romanov actually care if this happened ?

Of the 3 conditions imposed, the most important surely is the return to prompt wage payments in January - and beyond. This is also the sole aim of the players union.

Although we can feel a mild anger that the SPL are imposing this extra penalty on the club at a time of financial trouble, I think the best way out of this is for Hearts to be open with the SPL - explain the cash flow issues to them, confirm that wage payments are secure, and agree a payment schedule for the legal fees. Any other outcome is really risking an even tougher penalty being imposed on us by an SPL or SFA committee whose members have been regularly insulted by our owner.

What do you make of it all ?

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