"Hearts" Club and Payment of Salaries is Delayed Again © EuroFootball.com

Hearts, the Edinburgh club that does not pay salaries on time, has been almost banned by the Scottish Premier League (SPL) leaders from registering new football players until Christmas.

Representatives of the team owned by Lithuanian businessman Vladimir Romanov assured that all salaries up to October have already been transferred to the players' accounts, but the SPL's position did not soften.

This essentially means that Hearts will not be able to sign contracts with free agents for 60 days, until December 23. Recently, there has been talk that a contract could be offered to former team striker Rudi Skacel, who trained with Hearts.

The Edinburgh club also refused to promise that there will be no more payment problems in the future.

Hearts' shirts are worn by two Lithuanian national team football players: defender Marius Zaliukas and midfielder Arvydas Novikovas.