HEARTS will likely avoid being fined, docked points or worse by the Scottish Premier League after last night beginning the process that should see their players paid on time for the first time in four months.

The Tynecastle club had until midnight to pay January's salary after an SPL board sub-committee previously ruled that they would face sanctions if wages were not paid when due.

It is thought that the processing of payments began late yesterday afternoon, with the majority of the first-team squad expected to receive their money either late last night or this morning.

The sub-committee had met on January 4 to adjudicate in the dispute between 14 first-team players and the club regarding late payment of salaries for October and November, and the continued non-payment of monies for December.

The December salaries were paid within hours of possible sanctions being raised at the Hampden hearing, although Hearts subsequently claimed the timing of the payment was coincidental. The club were also required to pay interest on back payments, as well as legal expenses and costs of the meeting which they are understood to have done.

Had they failed to deliver on any of the outstanding criteria, Hearts could have faced disciplinary action – ranging from a fine, a docking of points, player registrations being cancelled, a transfer embargo, or even expulsion from the league, but that risk has now been averted for the time being.

Meanwhile, Kevin Kyle, the Hearts striker, is to undergo further surgery at the end of this month in a bid to save his career after a year-long absence with a hip injury.