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He’s the agent who thought he had seen everything in a working life that saw him broker Mo Johnston’s deal to Rangers after being paraded in a Celtic strip.

That’s after handling the affairs of George Best’s brilliant but riotous career.

And then Hearts came along on Wednesday and proved every day’s a school day, even if you are Billy McMurdo and in your fifth decade representing footballers.

Yes, these are unprecedented times with the future uncertain as this invisible virus wreaks havoc within and outwith the world of sport.

But McMurdo is scratching his head at the strategy employed by Tynecastle owner Ann Budge as she tries to stem her club’s financial bleeding in the midst of the corona crisis.

Budge has effectively ordered her entire workforce to take a 50 per cent pay cut or leave the club with a severance package.

Which means that seasoned international players such as Steven Naismith, Michael Smith, Liam Boyce, Oliver Bozanic and Conor Washington are being offered the chance to pick up a pay-off and, as free agents, find themselves new clubs in the next transfer window.

While Record Sport understands starlet Aaron Hickey isn’t affected by a 50 per cent pay cut demand because his salary is already very low, throw in their clutch of promising young Scots such as John Souttar, Lewis Moore and Craig Halkett, and there is potential for Daniel Stendel’s squad to be decimated.

That, of course, is if the players knock back the offer of a reduction in pay – and McMurdo is in no doubt that they should.

“If I were representing any of these players I would be advising him to stick to the original contract,” he told Record Sport.

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“A contract is an agreement between two parties, the club and the player. I have always insisted my players honour contracts and I think the club has to do the same. I would be telling the club to honour the contract or release him. If there had to be a package to get him out the club then that would have to be negotiated.”

The agent admits he simply can’t believe the route Hearts and Budge have gone down because they are gambling with the prospect of losing players who could be worth millions to them.

McMurdo, who met Budge for the first time two weeks ago when he spoke at a Willie Bauld Memorial Club dinner, said: “That she would go down this route seems very naive.

“For her to say that if you’re not prepared to take a 50 per cent drop in salary you can walk away, tells me they are in a terrible position. But how is losing players who could earn them a lot of money in transfers going to help the club?

“There are a lot of promising youngsters. It seems crazy to be offering them a way out and getting nothing back for it, other than saving their salaries. It sounds like a suicide pact. It’s kamikaze stuff.

“She hasn’t thought it through. What does she hope to achieve? How many players are going to take a 50 per cent drop in salary – and all the other staff too?

“I don’t think any other full time club in Scotland will follow suit. It’s too risky because they are gambling that players will accept the cut and if they don’t, they are going to lose a team of good players for nothing.

“As an agent, if I had any of the top players on their books, I would tell Hearts, ‘Right, they are out the door, let’s do a settlement package.’ Then I’d get them fixed up down south or wherever.

“It would be like a lottery for the players. They become free agents and are allowed to negotiate deals without the club they are going to having to fork out a fee.

“Some of their players have a lot of potential and to all intents and purposes, they are money in the bank for Hearts. But she has just handed them her pin number and invited them to queue up at the ATM.”

(Image: SNS Group)

The Jambos could claim development compensation fees for some of their kids but that would be chicken feed compared to the cash they could rake in a potential transfer.

And McMurdo reckons if Hearts are going to let go their players who don’t accept a halving of their salaries, they will also have to give up their right to compensation.

He said: “Some are under 23 so you have to determine if the club is going to give up the right to claim compensation.

“They can’t just go and play for another club unless they go to a country like Finland or India, where the transfer window is still open. But I think most will be looking at what’s out there in Britain for them. That Hearts will get nothing for them is crazy.”