Hearts players given part-payment

Hearts' form has dipped since the financial problems emerged at Tynecastle

Hearts players waiting for overdue wages have each received a £1,000 part-payment from the club.

The funds were generated from Saturday's home game, with the remainder dependent on money being released by owner Vladimir Romanov.

A total of 33 younger players were paid on time on 16 November, with the club announcing that senior players would be paid at the "earliest opportunity".

First-team members of the squad waited 19 days for their October money.

Manager Paulo Sergio has admitted the financial problems are having an effect on results, with Hearts having lost four and drawn one of six league games since the financial problems emerged.

After Hearts lost 2-1 at home to St Johnstone on Saturday, the Portuguese told Hearts TV: "We are losing focus on our work and that is revealed in games.

"We are thinking during the week of other problems - everybody knows - and we're losing our focus, our quality, our confidence, most of all in our defensive line.

"We are creating chances, that is good - we should put them in the net.

"But we are giving chances to our opponents without them having to do too much to deserve it."