The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Hearts owner won’t Budge over Stendel
HEARTS: Jambos owner vows to fight Tykes all the way over compensation
Hearts owner Ann Budge says she has seen nothing to suggest the Jambos owe Barnsley a penny in compensation for new boss Daniel Stendel.
The German has been appointed to the Tynecastle post on a two-and-a-halfyear deal but his former employers are threatening legal action over cash they say they are owed, despite relieving the 45-year-old from his Oakwell duties in October.
But Budge has vowed to fight all attempts to take Hearts to court after finally securing her number one target to replace Craig Levein following a prolonged six-week hunt.
The Gorgie chairwoman said: “I’m satisfied that at this moment in time we’ve nothing to suggest there is any compensation due and on that basis we’re carrying on.
“I was as frustrated as everybody else that the process was taking some time.
“We wanted to do it properly but we’ve got here and I’m sure it was worth the wait. Any complication that arises in a process is going to create a bit of a delay, so without question (Barnsley’s intervention) did delay the process.
“Was I ever in any doubt? It would be wrong to say I didn’t ever have any. There were times where I thought this is difficult. But we were persistent, I wanted it to happen and so we kept going.
“For sure, (the ball is in Barnsley’s court). I’m sure you’ve all read the statement Barnsley put out, the statement that I’ve put out and the statement that Daniel has put out.
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re getting on with business.”
Stendel was dismissed by Barnsley two months ago following a run of 10 games without a win but the Tykes claimed this week they had yet to agree a severance deal with the German, whom they also accused of breaching his contract by holding talks with a rival Sky Bet Championship club.
The former Hannover coach refused to discuss those allegations as he held his first press conference as Hearts boss, but insisted his Oakwell contract was ended with “immediate effect” in a statement posted on his official Facebook account.
While Budge will be left to handle that impending legal battle, it is now down to Stendel to rescue Hearts from the threat of relegation.
The chairwoman was impressed by the passion he showed during their negotiations and he will need to fire-up a side currently languishing joint bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Stendel hopes to eventually be joined in Edinburgh by his Barnsley number two Chris Stern, but for now will be assisted by Austin MacPhee – who remains in the running to be named the club’s new sporting director – and coaches Jon Daly and Liam Fox.