Hearts may be suffering a cash flow problem but that does not mean owner Vladamir Romanov is not committed to meet current commitments

Sergejus Fedotovas
Tynecastle director Sergejus Fedotovas has admitted they will be a "very different team" turning out for Hearts next season with senior players being allowed to leave to cut the wage bill. Owner Vladimir Romanov recently announced he was disillusioned with football and had instigated attempts to sell Hearts but Fedotovas insisted that would not undermine the future of the club. Hearts, now sixth in the SPL after losing to Dundee United yesterday,  are around £35million in debt and there are question marks over their long-term home with Tynecastle proving unsuitable for redevelopment and plans for a new stadium not making the progress the club would like to see. Fedotovas said the club have not set a deadline in their search for a new buyer, but hinted the board were committed to "transforming the business into a much more youthful, enterprising, entertaining and financially viable club". He added on the club's official website: "Mr Romanov has made his position clear and I can reinforce that, while he is justifiably disillusioned by many aspects of the sport - as are so many of the supporters and owners of teams across Europe - he has not lost his feeling towards Hearts."
 
Fedotovas did not provide and specific guarantees regarding a date when senior players could expect to see their salaries in the bank. They were due last Wednesday, following a 19-day delay on payment of their October salaries. He said: "I think it is important, at this stage, to credit the players for their professionalism in the matter. I do believe they understand that when we say we are doing everything to source funding for their salaries then they accept that we are.We have paid 33 of our players already and looking forward to catching up at some point soon. Despite a sporadic delay at times, we have always paid our players and we fully intend to continue to do so."
 
Fedotovas also confirmed players would be offloaded to reduce the club's wage bill. He said: "We have several players that have reached the peak of their career at Hearts and are ready for a move. Whether this will be January or the summer - we will need to see what options will be available to us. Our strategy involves bringing through the best young players while selling or releasing some of the senior and fringe players."