Romanov plans to increase Tynecastle's capacity to 40,000

AMID the extraordinary scenes at the club's training base at Riccarton yesterday, it almost went unnoticed that Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov had announced plans to rebuild Tynecastle and turn it into a 40,000-all seated stadium suitable for European matches.

Romanov revealed the ambitious plans when he met supporters' representatives in Edinburgh on Thursday evening. He also agreed that Murrayfield was unsuitable for domestic purposes but stopped short of promising not to take European games there in the future. Hearts have used the 67,500-capacity rugby ground for UEFA Cup and Champions League qualifying games in recent seasons but fans have expressed their concerns at the lack of atmosphere at the ground.

While there has been much talk of redeveloping Tynecastle since Romanov took a controlling interest in the club there has been little sign of action, but the Russian-born banker is confident the first steps will be taken in February when he hopes to submit a planning application for a new 12,000-capacity main stand.

His longer-term aim to rebuild the Wheatfield and Roseburn stands and eventually increase the ground's capacity to 40,000.

Romanov said: "I absolutely agree that Murrayfield is not a good stadium for the league at least. But we needed to make sure that was the case. It can be used properly if it is full. [But] even then it is not as comfortable as Tynecastle.

"Now our project for the stadium is for 40,000 in this location [Tynecastle]. We are at the first stage when we are planning to build a new stand for 12,000 people. We do not have suitable accommodation for the players," he continued. "We need to improve the restaurant and hospitality facilities too."

When pressed to confirm that the stadium would meet the necessary requirements for both UEFA Cup and Champions League games, he added: "The plan is in development to move, in the latter stages, the Roseburn and Wheatfield Stand back.

"We are planning to submit an application by February at the latest. After that it depends how it goes through the council."

Hearts first played UEFA Cup matches at Murrayfield in 2004 under the stewardship of Chris Robinson who claimed the Tynecastle pitch was too small to stage European games.

The former chief executive wanted to move the club full time to the rugby stadium and struck a deal to sell Tynecastle for housing. He was prevented from doing so when Romanov bought out Robinson's stake in the Edinburgh club.

Hearts returned to Murrayfield this season, playing three European ties and a friendly, attracting over 100,000 fans in total.