Sergejus Fedotovas says Hearts in sale discussions

Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas says the club are in talks with interested parties and claims a deal could be concluded by the summer.

Vladimir Romanov, who has a majority stake in the Tynecastle club, wants to sell but Hearts’ £20 million-plus debt is a major stumbling block.

Romanov has already rejected bids from the Foundation of Hearts consortium and former Livingston owner Angelo Massone.

Fedotovas said: “There are a number of interested parties and I understand discussions are happening. I don’t think anything will happen today or tomorrow, most will be looking towards the end of the season or the start of the new financial year.”

He also tried to allay fears about the club’s future in the wake of Ukio Bankas, the Lithuanian bank controlled by Romanov, entering administration. “Alarm bells never stop in the media,” Fedotovas told BBC Scotland. “It’s business as usual,” he said. “We don’t having anything to fear.”

Fedotovas stressed that the club is majority owned by Romanov’s Ukio Banko Investicine Grupe (UBIG), of which Ukio Bankas is just one business.