HEARTS managing director David Southern and director of football John Murray have both volunteered to take pay cuts to help administration-hit Jambos balance their books.

It comes less than 24 hours after the club announced assistant boss Billy Brown would not get a new deal when his short-term one runs out at the end of the month.

Hearts entered administration with £30million debts last summer but fans' group the Foundation of Hearts is hoping to complete a rescue deal in the next few weeks.

There are still cash-flow concerns and Southern and Murray have followed the lead of first-team players such as Ryan Stevenson, Jamie MacDonald, Jamie Hamill, and skipper Danny Wilson by accepting lower pay.

Hearts' joint administrator Bryan Jackson of BDO said they were getting closer to getting the Tynecastle club out of administration.

"However, a key element in the success of this administration is keeping Hearts solvent throughout this process until the share transfer can occur and all issues can be resolved," he said.

Hearts confirmed on Tuesday night that Brown would be leaving.

The 63-year-old - a lso a No.2 to ex-manager Jim Jefferies - returned to Tynecastle during the summer after he volunteered to help new boss Gary Locke through pre-season by working for free.

He then signed a short-term deal until January 31, but BDO have now decided the club cannot afford to keep Brown on past that date.

A Hearts spokesperson said: "We would like to put on record our gratitude to Billy for his sterling efforts in helping Gary."

Brown will be in the dugout for the last time at Saturday's SPFL Premiership meeting with St Johnstone in Perth, officially leaving Hearts on Sunday.

He said: "I am very disappointed my contract will not be renewed but that is the way things are at the club and I have to accept that."

He added: "I urge all supporters to get behind Gary and the team for the remainder of the season."