Successful roadshows to return

HEARTS are to hit the road again as they continue their bid to improve communications with supporters.

The club are to embark on a further series of "roadshows" following the success of a similar idea last season.

Players, management staff and directors will be in attendance at supporters clubs throughout the Lothian region as fans are given further opportunities to question club representatives about the future of the Tynecastle outfit, both on and off the park.

The first evening is set to go ahead at Craigmillar Hearts Supporters Club (7pm) on Thursday, March 14.

Spokesman Douglas Dalgleish insists the series of specially-arranged dates gives the supporters an ideal opportunity to ask the sort of questions they have been keen to hear answers to.

"It is a chance for the club to get out directly to the supporters and face their searching questions," he said.

"This allows the fans to receive answers face to face, if you like. This normally allows them to leave more satisfied than they may be after hearing things from a third party.

"We have said we are trying to be a listening club and we are continually attempting to build our communication links with the supporters."

The Craigmillar night marks the start of a handful of such evenings with others scheduled as follows: Woodburn Miners Club, Dalkeith (Thursday, April, 4), Cairn Hotel, Bathgate (Thursday, April 11), Lauder College, Dunfermline Conference Centre (Thursday, April 18), Gorgie Suite, Tynecastle (Tuesday, April 23).

Midfielder Steve Fulton, meanwhile, has returned to training this week after missing the 3-3 draw with Kilmarnock on Saturday.

The Jambos playmaker was laid low by a virus in the build-up to the Rugby Park clash but has been able to take a full part in Hearts’ training sessions.

With no action this coming weekend, boss Craig Levein has given his first-team squad a few days off.

The players will report back for duty on Monday as plans are put in place for the trip to Fir Park and the league meeting with Eric Black’s Motherwell.

A number of the foreign players have taken the opportunity to return home to be with their families and Levein said: "There is not much happening at all this week so it is a good opportunity for them.

"The likes of Stephane Adam, Tommi Gronlund and Antti Niemi will all be back for the start of next week."

HEARTS Under-18s will be looking to maintain their lead at the top of the table when they play host to Motherwell tomorrow afternoon.

Taken from the Scotsman