Deans calls on fan power to boost Hearts

Vladimir Romanov acted on Leslie Deans' recommendation by luring Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown back to Hearts. The enduring six months have brought a mini recruitment drive, the ousting of some high-earning deadwood and a sense of optimism that the sage-like Jefferies can regenerate success. Deans now wants more fans to back the club by returning to Tynecastle.

Over 10,000 season tickets have already been purchased, according Hearts a greater core support than any other non-Old Firm club in Scotland. Deans, the former chairman who initially lured Jefferies and Brown from Falkirk in 1995, now wishes to see Tynecastle full every second week.

The unique acoustics of the Gorgie venue have, in the past, intimidated many a domestic and foreign foe, and it is that atmosphere he wishes to sample again. The club have attended to supporters' desires by signing talented players and Deans believes some reciprocation is due.

Not since 2005 has Hearts' summer transfer activity captured the imagination so much. Granted, signings like Kevin Kyle and Stephen Elliott are not comparable to those of Edgaras Jankauskas and Takis Fyssas. But perhaps for the first time since the early days of George Burley's reign, there has been a properly structured recruitment programme to replenish the squad at Tynecastle.

Supporters have waited over two years for a proper forward, then two come along at once. Kyle and Elliott are certainly a marked improvement on Romanov's token gesture last summer, when David Witteveen arrived from Austrian amateur football. Supplementing them is defender Darren Barr, a pre-contract signing from Falkirk, and Jefferies has already indicated his desire to keep the Polish midfielder Adrian Mrowiec and the Cameroonian forward Jonathan Toto. There is hope within the club's Riccarton training base that another addition will arrive before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, Kilmarnock's Craig Bryson being the favoured choice.

Sensible signings for a grand total of nothing represent sound business practice in an era of fiscal prudence. This is the case not only at Tynecastle but at clubs across the country.

"Player trading is going to be a bigger part of our future. We will try to buy low and sell high, after getting some good years' service from these players," said the Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell yesterday. He is, of course, adopting a model which has been in place at Tynecastle for two years now.

Harbouring a near-35 million debt, Hearts must reduce operating costs following the departure of 12,000-a-week Jose Goncalves and his ilk. That they are doing so whilst reinforcing the squad with players of genuine potential is cause for optimism ahead of the new season. Jefferies' influence must not be underestimated, and Deans has implored supporters to jump on the bandwagon.

"I was so pleased when Vladimir moved to bring Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown back to Tynecastle," he said. "I recommended to him some time ago that, if the two of them were ever available, to seriously consider bringing them back.

"I'm delighted he decided to do so. Not for sentimental reasons, but because they are one of the best management teams in the business. With them at the helm and with the new talent we have up front, I believe the signs are good.

"You look back at last season when our top scorer had the princely sum of two goals, excluding penalties. If Hearts are to compete then there's no way that could happen again.

"I believe the two new strikers will score goals, allied to the continued development of young David Templeton and the return of Andy Driver in the next few weeks. Hearts will then have some pretty potent options going forward, considerably more than they had last season. All of that is grounds for optimism, I've sensed that amongst the fans. On Saturday, a number of them commented that they were confident about the season ahead. It's more important than ever that the fans back the club as much as they possibly can. Without their support, such investment in new players would not be possible. A demonstration of commitment from the club is that Hearts were prepared to part with a transfer fee for Craig Bryson. They are willing to pay transfer fees for the right type of player, even though transfer fees have been virtually non-existent between Scottish clubs outwith the Old Firm for some time.

"You look for the fans to reciprocate and help the club generate as much revenue as possible. I believe the club will continue to invest and will pay money for the right player. The price has to be right and the player has to be right, and that is them attempting to give the fans the best possible product on the park. All I'm saying is that it's a two-way contract. If the club are doing their part, I want to see as many of the fans doing their part too." Saturday's attendance for the opening match of the season against St Johnstone was a healthy 14,562. However, Deans believes the difference between a full Tynecastle and one with a couple of thousand empty seats is stark. "Tynecastle is a far more intimidating venue when it's full. I know players throughout the generations have appreciated it being full. In fact, opposition directors standing in the boardroom over a cup of tea have mentioned that, after their own ground, Tynecastle is a ground they like coming to because of its atmosphere.

"We are very keen that as much inspiration gets to the players as possible. The club has been able to invest in new players and, without wanting to prejudge the issue, I hope the greater competition for places up front will make for an exciting season.

"Like every other club, Hearts have found things tight financially. The TV deal now available to the SPL is much reduced from the old Setanta deal. That has hit revenues hard and football isn't immune to the tight economic situation around the globe.

"The club has thanked all those who have renewed season tickets and its magnificent to reach the 10,000 mark. I would like to see those who don't come quite as often - those who attend maybe only 50 per cent of the games or a third of the games during a season - go that step further to make their commitment to the club.

"I think we all want to see 15,000 or more inside Tynecastle. When it's 13,000 or so you can see spaces in the stands and the atmosphere is affected. We can get regular sellout attendances for games against the Old Firm, Hibs, etc. It can be done, we just want the fans to play their part in making that achieveable."

• HEARTS fans are invited to support the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research campaign by selecting their team of Tynecastle Legends online.

Supporters can log on to www.for-meg.viewfromgorgie.co.uk to pick their heroes for a calendar to be produced in honour of Meg Lowson, who lost her life to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia last month. Meg's husband Dave is an ardent Hearts supporter and friends of the couple are keen to enlist help from fellow Jambos.