Hearts players make wage deferral gesture as PFA Scotland open talks with Ann Budge

Hearts players are willing to take wage deferrals to help their club through the coronavirus crisis.

PFA Scotland have opened talks with the Tynecastle hierarchy to see if an
 agreement can be reached and Hearts’ playing staff are willing to play their part.

The Tynecastle club, via a letter from chairwoman Ann Budge, asked all their staff over the minimum wage to take 50 per cent wage cuts last month.

Hearts also made it clear if staff were not willing to take the cuts they were
 free to terminate their contract, as defender Clevid Dikamona has done.

Captain Stevie Naismith has already broken ranks and agreed to take the cut, as have director of football Craig Levein and coach Austin MacPhee.

(SNS Group)

Head coach Daniel Stendel is also currently working for nothing.

PFA Scotland have told Hearts their players would be willing to take deferrals if they could then return to full wages when football resumes. The Union has made its stance clear that none of their members should be forced to take wage cuts and deferrals are their preferred route.

There was a second letter sent out by Budge confirming that the players would be paid in full for last month but they would be looking at ways of making possible future savings.

PFA (Scotland) are now waiting to see if they can come to an agreement
 with Hearts that can find some middle ground and
ultimately a solution to this messy situation.