Hearts set to face tribunal over football secretary Louise Mackenzie's complaint

Louise Mackenzie, who is football secretary for the Edinburgh club, has raised a legal bid through an employment tribunal, which is now scheduled to be heard over several days.

Ms Mackenzie, from Dalkeith, Midlothian, works for the Tynecastle club mainly from its offices at their Riccarton training HQ on the outskirts of the capital in the grounds of Heriot-Watt University.

Speaking from her home yesterday, Ms Mackenzie refused to comment on the case, saying: "I can't say anything about it. I'm still employed by Hearts. You'll have to speak to the communications director."

Her role involves ensuring that all members of the football department – including manager, coaching staff, players and support staff – know where they are supposed to be at any given time.

On the official club website, Hearts themselves make mention of her as part of their promotion of the academy, describing her post as a "difficult task".

Her role also includes welcoming visitors to the facilities, where she was still working yesterday.

The club is detailed as the chief respondent in her claim, which is set for a hearing at the Employment Tribunal (Edinburgh) offices in Melville Street early next month.

Hearts' communications director, David Southern, was on holiday yesterday, and the matter was referred to his communications team.

Yesterday, when asked to comment about Ms Mackenzie's forthcoming tribunal, a spokeswoman said: "Yes… we're not saying anything about it."

The hearing, which is scheduled to last three days, is due to begin on 1 March.

Heart of MIdlothian FC, which is owned by the Russian millionaire Vladimir Romanov, who is based in Lithuania, has already been involved in a lengthy court dispute with its former manager George Burley over unpaid wages.