Hearts manager John McGlynn insists he is not overly concerned by the latest wage delay at the Scottish Premier League club.
Six players and two members of staff, including McGlynn himself, did not receive their wages on schedule on Monday and those monthly salaries remain outstanding.
“It doesn’t concern me, really,” McGlynn said.
“Everybody’s been paid in the past and I’m expecting to be paid in the near future. The club are waiting on money coming in which will certainly take that issue away.
“I’m not that worried. My wife works, so I’m all right.”
Sacchi gives his backing to Allegri
Arrigo Sacchi, the former Milan coach, said the Rossoneri should not sack Massimiliano Allegri who is under pressure after a very poor start to the new campaign.
Sacchi reckons Milan are not equipped to challenge for titles after offloading their best players in summer
“It’s evident that letting Ibrahimovic, Silva and the rest go has lowered the level of the squad,” Sacchi said.
“A coach is not a magician. The club was satisfied with Allegri given that they decided to keep him in the summer. As a result, they must now go forward with their coach.”
Naples violence
Two Swedish football fans and the owner of the pizzeria where they were eating in Naples were stabbed overnight in an apparent attack by Napoli hooligans, Italian media reported yesterday.
The two fans, a 41-year-old and a 23-year-old, were in the southern Italian port city as part of a group that was visiting from Sweden for last night’s Europa League face-off between Napoli and AIK Solna.
Reports said the pizzeria owner was injured while trying to defend the Swedish fans against “a group armed with baseball bats and knives”.
Fans will do club proud says Vidic
Manchester United skipper Nemanja Vidic is confident the club’s fans will not let them down at Anfield on Sunday.
It is Liverpool’s first game on home soil since the damning verdict on the Hillsborough tragedy was released last week.
There are fears about supporter conduct given some United fans engaged in anti-Liverpool chants last weekend. Wednesday’s game against Galatasaray passed without incident though and Vidic believes it will be the same on Sunday.
Vidic said: “People always try to make a big thing out of a small one but I don’t have any worries. We have shown many times in the past and I think we will be proud of them.”
Pique injured
Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique (picture) will be out for at least “two to three weeks” after hurting his left foot in his side’s 3-2 win at home to Spartak Moscow in the Champions Lea-gue on Wednesday, the club announced.
The 25-year-old Spain international was injured in a challenge with Spartak midfielder Romulo in the 11th minute at Camp Nou and had to leave the field, with Alex Song taking his place.
Pique’s injury leaves Barca very light in central defence, with Carles Puyol already sidelined for between four and six weeks due to a knee injury.
Samp’s Obiang on Man. City radar
Manchester City are likely to table an offer for young Sampdoria midfielder Pedro Obiang in the January transfer window, reports said.
Obiang, 20, left a very good impression last season as Sampdoria battled their way back to the Serie A and he extended that form into the top flight.
City scout Attilio Lombardo has already monitored Obiang, who originates from Guinea but holds a Spanish passport, during Sampdoria’s home matches this season.
Obiang has represented Spain at Under-17 and Under-19 level.
Lille’s Mavuba demands response
Lille captain Rio Mavuba has called for an immediate response to the midweek Champions League defeat to BATE Borisov, starting on Sunday against Lyon.
Lille were beaten 3-1 by the Belarusians as they opened their Group F campaign in disappointing fashion. And having won just one of their opening five Ligue 1 fixtures, Mavuba is demanding better.
“We have a big game on Sunday against Lyon,” he said.
“We have to bounce back and beat Lyon. We are all in the same boat, it’s everyone’s business.
“We have to respond as it is in difficult times that you see how the squad behave.”