IAN BLACK last night launched a blistering attack on Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov, claiming the Lithuanian was "playing games" with the club as players' wages were delayed on several occasions.
The midfielder, who left Tynecastle in the summer to sign for Rangers, was one of a number of players who was repeatedly not paid on time last season. The situation has repeated itself this year, with the club failing to pay several players and staff, including manager John McGlynn, their August salaries as scheduled.
A cashflow problem was blamed on the latest delay and Black criticised his former chairman for the handling of the situation.
"I spoke to a couple of the players and I felt sorry for them. I grew up watching Hearts but I am glad that I am away and don't have to worry about looking after my family.
"They do [deserve better]. The players go out and do their best for the club and the fans and it affects you a lot when you are not getting paid if you have got a family and bills to pay. To me, it is just a game for him. He just likes to play games with Scottish football. I feel sorry for the staff and players."
He added: "I went through some tough times on and off the pitch because of it. We knew the money was there but I heard stories when I was there that when we weren't getting paid on time, he [Romanov] was buying himself private planes. When you hear stories like that, that's when you know he has got the club just to play games."
Black left Hearts just days after helping them to success in the Scottish Cup with a 5-1 win over Edinburgh rivals Hibernian at Hampden, following manager Paulo Sergio and winger Rudi Skacel out of the club. He was criticised for showing a lack of ambition in dropping down to the third division but he insists it was Hearts' decision to let him leave.
"I had a year left at Hearts," he said. "But they ripped up the contract. I had no negotations, at all. I can tell you that I was nowhere near the top earners that are still at the club. The owner and the top dogs decided to cut the wage bill, even though I had a year left. They said 'we are not going to take your option up, we want you to go'.
"It was a solid contract. They could trigger it, it was their decision. They could have said 'we are keeping you, you are going nowhere'. It was up to them and they ripped it up."
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