How Hearts and Hibs may be able to sign players on short-term deals if season is played to a finish beyond May depending on Fifa dispensation - reports

Hearts and Hibs stars Oliver Bozanic, Clevid Dikamona, Steven Whittkaker and Vykintas Slivka are all in the same position where their contracts expire at the end of the season.

They are amongst more than 100 Ladbrokes Premiership players whose deals end this summer.

It has become a complex situation for those players due to the postponement of Scottish football indefinitely following the coronavirus outbreak as they weigh up their possible options, whether it is staying at their club or moving elsewhere.

It is unclear as to what happens next with the league season with much speculation surrounding it.

One possible option would be for it to be played to completion. Depending on how the situation unfolds it would involve prolonging the season.

At this moment it doesn’t seem likely, especially as the country’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stated that the next few months are set to be “very challenging and unprecedented in our lifetimes".

But such an idea has been discussed, according to The Athletic, with reports that the English FA and Fifa could grant special dispensation on contracts. It would allow clubs to offer short-term rolling deals for players out of contract on June 30, such as week-by-week contracts.

In Scotland, many contracts tend to expire at the end of May which would require different dispensation. But it would be vital with so many players on expiring deals.

In addition to possibly being able to re-sign players, clubs would also get the opportunity to pluck players out of contract from rival clubs to aid them in reaching their respective aims, whether that be Hearts surviving relegation or Hibs’ push for Europe.

An issue could rise whereby agents look to take advantage of the situation and secure their clients “lucrative bonuses”.

A source told The Athletic: “You can guarantee agents will demand lucrative bonuses for themselves and their player if he is seen as crucial to club’s success for that immediate goal.”

It is unclear the position on loan players who clubs have as part of their squad, as well as those due to return.