CRAIG Levein, the Hearts manager, accused his players of cheating and taking money under false pretences after their 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen.

That was the poorest performance in the seven matches that Levein has been in charge of the Tynecastle club, and is certain to lead to cuts in his playing staff to root out offenders.

''There are a lot of players in the comfort zone at Hearts, picking up good wages who don't care about results,'' said the

manager.

''This is almost theft to take money after a performance like that.

''To say I am disappointed is an understatement. We have had periods of bad play during games I have been with this club, but 90 minutes of that is too much. That is the worst by far since I came here.

''This is something which has been happening for a while, and you have to look at individuals to try and work out whether they have the desire to play at a club with the ambitions we have.

''I had doubts about certain players. I no longer have these doubts. You cannot have a

successful team when you have weak-willed players like we have now. But for our keeper (Antti Niemi) we could have lost by five or six goals.

''If you get paid great wages to pull on a jersey, to do what you love, and play for the club you love, you should not need to be asked to get motivated.

''I accept that we are struggling in certain areas.

''However, I can ask that everyone works as hard as they can. Some are playing to win new contracts, others to get a move elsewhere.

'' They will be struggling to achieve either.

''I will be using the winter break to make the players' lives as miserable as hell for they

have made my life miserable today.''