Hearts ask for £250,000 more from fans

HEARTS have again warned supporters that the club faces “consequences” if they fail to hit their £1.79 million share issue scheme by the 19 December deadline.

With only £750,000 generated so far, director Sergejus Fedotovas has admitted that £1 million is now a more realistic figure.

Fedotovas said: “It is a great effort to bring in £750,000 and the fans should be proud of the achievement. But, as I have stated on a number of occasions, we are still well short of reaching the target which was set at the launch of the share issue. There will be consequences if we fail to hit that target and I would ask anyone who hasn’t participated in the scheme yet, to do so. We have to look at reaching £1m now. I think [this target] is one that is realistic and achievable.”

Meanwhile, the Foundation of Hearts will today step up its efforts to piece together a viable takeover bid for Hearts when it calls on fans to pledge money for the future running of the club.

The fan-led consortium, which claims to remain in “positive dialogue” with the Hearts hierarchy, has produced 20,000 leaflets to be distributed before this afternoon’s match with Aberdeen at Tynecastle as it seeks the financial backing needed to progress its plans. Already, around 3,000 supporters have promised cash, with the Foundation asking for regular monthly contributions from members should its buy-out succeed.

It has stressed that it is not asking for money at this point, rather a commitment, in a range of £10 to £100 per month, to help fund the club in future.

The cash would “provide working capital for the running of the club” and, before any request for contributions are sought, full financial information will be provided to those who make pledges.