Hearts defender Clevid Dikamona has set the record straight following reports he has rejected the 50% wage cut at Tynecastle.
The 29-year-old was reported to be ready to terminate his contract with the Jambos and find another club, following this week’s development that all full-time employees at the club are to be hit with a temporary wage reduction.
Dikamona is to become a free agent now, saving Hearts a wage (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Owner Ann Budge is taking action she is convinced is necessary in order to sustain the football club.
Hearts are unable to bring in any income while football is suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic, with Budge suggesting the cost to the club of not fulfilling fixtures is around £1 million.
Full-time employees are to see their wages halved, but the club say they’re willing to facilitate exits for individuals who are ‘unable or unwilling’ to accept.
The claim is that Dikamona has apparently spoken to the club and that the wheels are in motion for his exit – and the player has taken to Twitter to clear the situation up.
Tynecastle currently has no income (Photo by Ewan Bootman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
He said: “I have simply agreed to help the club by adhering to the requests of the owner and as I have indicated, I am also ready to re-sign a contract with the club as soon as the situation will be clear, and especially if the club wishes to make me a new contract proposal.
“As everyone knows I am attached to this club and Hearts will obviously be my priority next season. The end of my contract comes now rather than in May, simply to allow me to return to France with my family.”
So it looks as though the centre-half is on his way while the Coronavirus pandemic takes over, but is keen to renegotiate a new contract when the time is right.
Dikamona added that he doesn’t anticipate anything though, and that his thoughts are only about the wellbeing of his family right now.