Black ready to paint the town blue at Tynecastle

Elsewhere, Rangers yesterday announced that 10 non-playing staff have been made redundant - with more expected to follow - as officials try to slash costs.

Black went through a similar upheaval - and far worse - during the three turbulent seasons he spent at Tynecastle. At one stage he went out to work as a painter and decorator so he could support his family and pay household bills after not being paid his wages in over two months.

The 29-year-old reckons those difficult experiences have been invaluable as Rangers have lurched from one crisis to another since he joined them over two years ago and he is confident Ally McCoist's side can focus on football and deal their title rivals a first defeat of the campaign at Tynecastle.

Asked if the adverse headlines had taken a toll on squad morale, Black said: "They haven't. I have been through it all at Hearts and the only time it affects you is when it gets to the stage where you aren't getting paid and you can't pay your bills.

"That's the only time I think it will affect the players. So until then we don't really pay attention to it. We just concentrate on what we are getting paid for and on going out and winning games and doing well for the club and the fans.."

"We don't know what's going on behind the scenes. That's for the board. They deal with all that. The manager has got us and works with us on the training field and that's what matters for us."

It will be Black's first return to to Tynecastle since being released in 2012 and is looking forward to locking horns with his old side. However, he admitted he still feels a lingering resentment at the way he was treated by owner Vladimir Romanov and how the enigmatic banker ran the club.

"It's a massive club, Hearts. The previous owner destroyed a massive club and ripped it up. But credit to the fans. They have stood by them and pulled them back up. Just like the Rangers fans. You learn a lot from stuff like that and I certainly grew up a lot.

"I wasn't paid for 2½ months and that's a long time for anybody. I have a family to support, so I had to go and do what I needed to do in order to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. I got an offer to go and help one of my friends who has got his own business, so I went. There's a lot of footballers out there who wouldn't want to be seen doing that, there's too much self-pride there.

"But I am certainly not one to shy away from getting my hands dirty and to supply for my family."

Despite standing by Hearts during their difficulties, Black is fully expecting to get pelters from their supporters when he takes to the field in the televised top-of-the-table clash this weekend. He stressed his affection for his former club will not stop him trying his hardest to help Rangers win the game and move to within three points of the league leaders.

He said: "It's my first time back since leaving, I'm really looking forward to going back. It will be really good to run back out on that pitch and hopefully come away with a win for Rangers. I had really good moments there. We won the Scottish Cup in 2012 and there were derby games as well, but I want to go back and disappoint a few people.

"It will be my first time on the pitch since the cup final celebrations, I'm going to relish it and enjoy every moment, but also work hard for Rangers.

"If I get stick then I get stick; I'll deal with it. I'm not really expecting it, I wouldn't like to think I will get a bit of stick. But if they choose to, they choose to and I'll just have to deal with it."

'Hearts v Rangers is exclusively live on BT Sport 1 from 12.00pm on Saturday 22nd November. BT Sport will bring fans live action of five SPFL games before the end of December, including Queen of the South v Rangers (12th December)  and Dundee United v Celtic (21st December). Visit BT Sport.com for more info.'