Hearts Can Keep Danny Wilson

Danny Wilson used a loophole in the football laws to controversially sign again for skint Hearts.

In a shock move, Hearts have dodged a signing embargo and used cash freed up by sacking John Sutton on Friday to fund a new deal for defender Wilson.

The former Liverpool and Rangers stopper had agreed a bumper three-year deal with the Jam Tarts before the club plunged into administration.

However, the permanent contract was not lodged with the football authorities before the club suffered an insolvency event.

At that stage, Wilson was told the deal he agreed with the capital club was non-binding and he would be a free agent again, when his original loan move from Liverpool to Hearts expired.

However, the newly-formed SPFL recently allowed Hearts to process the Wilson deal.

League chiefs claimed that, as long as Wilson signed the deal before midnight on 30 June, Hearts could register him as it was a continuation of a previous contract rather than a new agreement.

An SPFL statement said: “The SPFL Player Registration of Heart of Midlothian FC player Danny Wilson would, had he not agreed a contract extension, have terminated on 30 June.

The SPFL has now received documents extending the contract of the player.

“As a result, the player’s existing SPFL registration is automatically extended and is not affected by the embargo on new SPFL Player Registrations currently in place on Heart of Midlothian FC as a result of Heart of Midlothian plc (in administration) being in administration.”

Boss Gary Locke was thrilled to have kept a key player as he eyes the prospect of starting the season with a 15-point penalty and a squad made up of kids.

He said: “I’m really pleased. Danny was already due to be part of the team and the administration has made no difference to his status.”

It’s understood Wilson has taken a massive hit on his original deal, but could still earn around £1,500 a week at Gorgie.