Ann: I will not Budge
Ann Budge says there is a split in the Hearts squad over pay cuts – with some not discussing anything other than deferrals.
Skipper Steven Naismith had already accepted the initial request for players to take a 50 per cent reduction in salaries.
But since the emergence of the government’s Job Retention Scheme, the Jambos supremo has revealed those reductions have been revised downwards, resulting in no player having to take more than a 30 per cent cut.
Budge said: “This week I’ve spoken, with two exceptions, to al l the first-team players.
“Some people said there and then that they would be happy to accept the proposals and other people have indicated they want to think about it. Others
are sticking to the position they want to discuss it with the PFA. So it’s a complete cross-section.
“A number of players have said they would be willing to talk if we were talking deferrals but are not prepared to talk cuts.”
Budge has argued that the Jambos’ ownership model, as well as her decision to pay higher wages and less in bonuses, puts further financial stress on the club.
The Jambos currently lie four points adrift at the bottom of the table.
But with eight games remaining on the fixture list, Budge has reiterated her warning that she would contest any decision by the SPFL to ‘call’ the league now and relegate her club.
She added: “I will seek legal advice. I haven’t at the minute because no decision has been made.
“I made it very clear to the SPFL that, if they did go down this route, there are a number of areas I would be contesting.”