Hearts in talks with council over sharing ‘community stadium’

A joint study instigated by Hearts, who claim to have won the backing of fans for a move from their Tynecastle home, recommends the two parties work together on the venture.

Club officials say “severe restrictions” over possible redevelopment of the existing stadium have led to them considering the radical move.

Senior council sources insist that, although the club may be offered the use of council land, Hearts would still have to bankroll the vast majority of the costs involved in the creation of a new stadium.

It is understood council-owned Sighthill Park, in the west of the city, is the favoured site for a “community stadium”, which would be owned by the local authority and feature a host of facilities open to the public. Such a scheme saw Falkirk FC move into a new home on the outskirts of the town in 2003 after it agreed to share with the local council.

News of Hearts’ proposals emerged weeks after the club revealed that 75 per cent of fans polled over a possible move from Tynecastle wanted a new stadium built within five miles of the existing ground.

Last night, Hearts said that, although they had not made a final decision to quit Tynecastle, “it is very clear that doing nothing is not an option.” They will be working on a full business case with the council over the next few months.

Other sites mooted since the club shelved controversial plans for a £53 million development at Tynecastle last year are thought to include land owned by former Rangers chairman Sir David Murray, at Hermiston, and a proposed international business gateway complex near Edinburgh Airport.

However, these are known to be less popular with Hearts fans due to their distance from the club’s Gorgie heartland.

Hearts have been in talks with the council for more than a year about a possible new home, after it emerged there were too many health and safety problems involved in a major overhaul of Tynecastle – mainly due to a nearby whisky distillery.

Sighthill Park was previously earmarked by the council for a new sports stadium, and it received funding from the Scottish Executive, only for councillors to later pull the plug on the scheme in favour of trying to overhaul Meadowbank Stadium.

A spokesman for Hearts said the study, which the club began consulting on in May, had highlighted the numerous “difficulties” faced by the club in staying at Tynecastle.

He added: “The study provides a number of significant recommendations relating to potential partnership models, one of which is a partnership with the council. At this stage, it is recommended that the council works jointly with Hearts to work up a business case which would identify whether a community stadium is sustainable and viable and, if so, how this could be delivered.

“Hearts will now embark on further consultation with supporters and other key stakeholders once the full joint study is submitted to the council at the end of this month.”

Hearts director Vitalijus Vasiliauskas said: “The report highlights the severe restrictions the club is working under in relation to its current location and it is very clear that doing nothing is not an option.

“We are therefore keen to identify a sustainable and viable stadium solution for the club.”