I'd love the Hearts job

BILL LOTHIAN

PHIL Anderton today broke his silence about a possible move into football as chief executive of Hearts by sending a come-and-get-me message to the Tynecastle club’s board.

The 39-year-old former Scottish Rugby Union figurehead and trail-blazer made it clear he is ready to make the short leap across the Western Approach Road from Murrayfield to Gorgie.

And he hinted that the round-ball game has always held a strong lure for him.

He said: "If the opportunity of working with a great sporting institution like Hearts were to come along, it would obviously have considerable appeal for me."

The former Coca-Cola marketing high-flier has previously been guarded about the possibility of working in the Bank of Scotland SPL but now seems ready to make the switch.

He said: "I enjoy football, as I do many sports. To work within football, while trying to move a club like Hearts and the game forward would be indeed a privilege and an attraction."

Until Anderton broke his silence today, rumours linking him with the Hearts job had been mainly speculative. Now the odds of the Edinburgh Academy-educated executive ending up as part of the Vladimir Romanov-inspired Tynecastle revolution have increased dramatically.

Others are believed to be in the frame and one source close to Hearts has told the Evening News that it could be some weeks before confirmation of any appointment, which would initially be through a Stock Exchange announcement. However, Anderton’s enthusiastic response to the rumours gives a strong indication that he is confident of landing it.

Anderton resigned as chief executive of the SRU a month ago as part of a power struggle.

It would be ironic if he were to return to Murrayfield for European ties, as Chief Executive of the Jambos.

Anderton is said to have come to the attention of Hearts’ new Lithuanian owner Romanov when he facilitated Hearts’ three visits to Murrayfield in 2004 for UEFA Cup action.

He is also credited with introducing more razzamatazz to Murrayfield rugby fixtures and was criticised by Sir Clive Woodward for a firework display before a Calcutta Cup match.

Romanov is thought to be particularly keen on Anderton’s marketing skills and feels he will be able to get the Edinburgh business community more involved in Hearts.

Taken from the Scotsman