PAUL Hart has vowed to “fight tooth and nail” to ensure that Swindon Town will not pay a penny of Mike Grella's wages as long as the former Nottingham Forest boss remains in charge of the club.

It emerged earlier this week that Grella was still on the payroll of Town despite opting to cut shot his loan spell prior to the win at Brentford.

With Grella having originally signed a deal until the end of the season, the Robins are technically obliged to continue to pay the American, even if he is not turning out for the team.

But Hart, who was disgusted with the attitude of the player he had handed five starts from seven games since being named manager in early March, will do all he can to ensure Town do not pay him any more wages.

“Mike Grella came to me to ask to leave Swindon, when we are involved in a relegation fight,” he said. “After deliberation I acceded to his request and it is good riddance to bad rubbish.

“As far as I am concerned we are not paying him and as long as I am here I will fight tooth and nail to make sure this remains the case.

“He has gone and I am only interested in players who want to fight for Swindon.”

Hart, though, was keen to ensure the Grella issue does not detract from tomorrow's pivotal game with Notts County.

Three points from the County Ground encounter are more important than ever before, with Town teetering on the bring of relegation to League Two.

“We need to win this one, no question,” said Hart. “But again we take it one game at a time, we will get this one out of the way and hopefully get the right result.

“The players know exactly what needs to be done, and we still have a chance.”

Town perhaps face the Magpies at a bad time, given they picked up their first win under Martin Allen at Tranmere on Tuesday.

Hart has worked with Allen before, having given him a job during his brief stint in charge of QPR, and has an idea of what to expect from the former Brentford boss tomorrow.

“I took him as a scout when I was at QPR and no doubt he will put the same zest into the manager’s job at Notts County as he did for me during my time at Loftus Road,” he added.