Hearts hit with winding-up order

A motion to issue Scottish Premier League club Hearts with a winding-up order has been lodged at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

The petition, which is to be heard on Thursday, is believed to involve a tax bill owing to Her Majesty’s Customs and Revenue.

Hearts – owned by Lithuanian businessman Vladimir Romanov – have been issued with winding orders in 2009 and 2010 over unpaid taxes, which were later settled after the club paid the bills.

Concern over the state of Hearts’ finances grew when the Scottish players’ union lodged an official complaint with the SPL on Tuesday over unpaid wages.

The players’ latest payments were expected on October 16, and late payments have twice failed to arrive as expected.

While players and coaching staff remain unpaid, the club’s administrative employees and youth players have been paid.

The players’ union have written to the club requesting an explanation of the situation, but are yet to receive a response.

If the complaints are raised with FIFA, players could be released from their contracts and permitted to seek other employment.