Stewart is on the look out for a new club after leaving Turkey

By Brian McLauchlin

Former Hearts and Hibernian midfielder Michael Stewart is back in Scotland after terminating his contract with Turkish club Genclerbirligi.

The 29-year-old says he has not be paid since picking up an injury at the start of the season.

Stewart signed a one-year deal in May, with an option of extending that by another two years.

"We will take it to Fifa and it looks as if the club will have to honour the contract," Stewart told BBC Scotland.

"The way it works out there is you get a lump sum when you sign, which I received.

"Since my injury though I have not been paid my wages. It's disappointing. I tried to resolve it on a number of occasions to no avail.

"The [Scottish] players' union have been superb over the past few months."

Genclerbirligi also picked up Billy Mehmet in the summer, with the striker out of contract at St Mirren.

But he too has moved on this month, joining Samsunspor in the second tier of Turkish football.

Rangers striker Kenny Miller is on the verge of a move to Bursaspor but Stewart does not think his sour experience should reflect badly on Turkish football.

"You need to go into it with your eyes firmly wide open," added the player who began his career at Manchester United.

"Maybe things might not go too smoothly, but it's part of the experience. You are going out there learning a new language and a new culture.

"The way they do business out there is definitely different. As long as you make sure the paperwork is all right then you don't have too much to worry about."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version