Hearts face a spot of bother

"Everybody talks about the great atmosphere at Tynecastle and that is because supporters are close to players and officials," said Foulkes. "As supporters, we must not exploit it by throwing things at players and officials close by and if we do people will suggest bringing back barriers and such things."

Foulkes made it clear he did not want that to happen and hoped that the incidents, which involved throwing coins and a cigarette lighter on to the pitch at the officials, would not be repeated.

The incidents happened after Rangers were awarded a controversial last-minute penalty which Fernando Ricksen converted to give the Ibrox side a 2-1 win.

Hearts have written to the Scottish Premierleague, Dallas and Davis to apologise for what happened, and have disciplined Saulius Mikoliunas, who was sent off in the last minute after protesting over the penalty award. They will also be reviewing video evidence of the game and announced that anyone found throwing objects from the terracings would be "dealt with appropriately."

"What he [Mikoliunas] did was not excusable," said Foulkes. "However, I hope the SFA will take account of the circumstances that led up to it happening with the penalty incident which caused him to react and the protests from the fans and the Hearts players over it.

"Saulius is a young, enthusiastic and a committed player."

The Hearts chairman said it was unfair to compare the incident with Mikoliunas with that involving David Prutton, of Southampton, who was given a 10-match ban and a £6000 fine after he shoved referee Alan Wiley in a match against Arsenal.

"You can't always compare situations," added Foulkes. "What Saulius did was right at the end of the match and over a decision which apparently the players and supporters thought unfair. The Rangers players did not even call for a penalty. I think all these things need to be taken into account.

"I also believe it is not fair for him to be mentioned in the same way as the Southampton player. He is a young boy, a Lithuanian internationalist and there were circumstances leading up to what happened. Saulius has had two bookings in two-and-a-half seasons and we will be putting in a plea of mitigation on his behalf."

Despite Foulkes protestations, it is likely the SFA will hit the Lithuanian winger with a lengthy ban following the incident. Mikoliunas and Dado Prso, of Rangers were sent off in the dying moments of the game but the SFA were unable to confirm whether the Hearts player had received a second red card after the match for swearing at the referee.

Prso will automatically miss this weekend's match with Inverness but SFA disciplinary chiefs are awaiting Dallas' comments on the game before deciding what action to take against Mikoliunas and possibly the club after three fans were arrested for throwing coins on to the pitch.

An SFA spokesperson said: "It depends on the referee's report. Once it comes in then we will look at those things. Mikoliunas was sent off for violent conduct in the 90th minute but whether the player did something else and received another red card we don't know at this stage."

Meanwhile, Phil Anderton was appointed chief executive of Hearts yesterday and, after taking in the match against Rangers alongside the rank-and-file supporters of the club, he has plenty on his plate to get him started in his new job.

Anderton is eager to sink his teeth into his new role, and is delighted not only to be involved in Scotland's most popular sport, but also with the team he grew up supporting. He has set himself his first challenge of increasing the Tyne-castle crowds and improving corporate facilities to bring in much-needed revenue at the club, which is £17.6m in debt.

He will be buoyed by Foulkes' announcement yesterday which revealed that the old main stand at Tynecastle is to be demolished and a new one with seating for 8000 rebuilt in its place at a cost of at least £5.6m. This move will, however, ensure the club stay in their spiritual home in the long term.

"You see the crowds at Hearts and they get around 10,000 and I don't see why we can't get that figure up," said Anderton. "We must drive up the income and that enables you to invest in better players.

"Other major cities, like Sheffield, have football clubs which get bigger attendances that Hearts. If we do the right things, get our marketing right, get working with supporters, raise income and provide resources for the manager to invest in team, I don't see why we can't raise the crowds."

Foulkes feels Anderton's appointment is a significant one for the club. "We are staying at Tynecastle, we have seen Vladimir Romanov do everything he promised for the club and more, and now we have appointed the best sports administrator in the business as our chief executive," he said.

Taken from the Herald