HEARTS chairman George Foulkes today urged supporters to put their money where their mouth is and buy season tickets now Chris Robinson has finally been removed from the board.

Many Tynecastle fans had refused to purchase briefs for the new campaign while the former chief executive still had influence at the club but Foulkes is hoping his departure yesterday will spark a rush to the ticket office.

Robinson severed all ties with the Gorgie outfit and also resigned from his positions with the SFA and SPL. His place on the board has been taken by Julija Goncaruk, a 28-year-old Lithuanian businesswomen who becomes the club's first female non-executive director.

But it is the end of Robinson's 11-year association with the club that will delight Hearts fans and with 6500 season tickets already sold for the new campaign Foulkes is confident that number will now rise dramatically.

"Some people have written to me in the last few weeks and months and said that once Chris goes they will take up season tickets with the club so we are looking forward to season ticket sales escalating rapidly over the next few days," revealed Foulkes.

"I hope they make good their promises and come forward.

"We have stopped the move to Murrayfield, got our debt underwritten, Chris has left the club and now we also have a top-class manager in place so there is no reason for fans not to buy season tickets."

There will be few Jambos mourning the loss of Robinson today, the man who presided over much of the club's spiralling debt and tried to sell Tynecastle and move to Murrayfield.

However, Foulkes was at pains to point out that Robinson, pictured below, was also responsible for several significant steps taken by the club.

"Although Chris's period on the board ended in controversy there are still some very positive aspects that need to be remembered," he said.

"One is the completion of the three sides of Tynecastle which has made it into one of the most atmospheric grounds in the country. There was also the great Scottish Cup win in 1998 and also the completion of the Youth Academy at Heriot-Watt.

"That should all be taken into account when considering the contribution that Chris has made to the club.

All previous chairmen are welcome to come back to the directors' box for matches and Chris Robinson is no different."

Meanwhile, Robinson admitted today that he has no regrets over his time in Gorgie. "It feels slightly strange that for the first time in 11 years we are approaching the start of a new season and I am free from the pressures of trying to set things in motion both on and off the field," he said.

"However, I am really looking forward to going back to being just a supporter. I have many great memories and absolutely no regrets about being involved in this great football club. I believe the club is going in the right direction and will make progress under the new Romanov era."

Robinson's successor, Goncaruk, will be charged with marketing the Hearts brand across Europe and driving up commercial sales.

She has, for the last five years, worked for UBIG, Vladimir Romanov's management company. "I think it is important with more and more women coming to football matches and more and more women playing the game that women are represented on the board," said Foulkes.

"That, of course, is not the only reason she has been appointed as she also has a very impressive track record.

"She was educated at the University of London where she obtained a diploma in international management and she has a very distinguished record as a businesswomen and particularly in areas involving textiles and merchandising.

"I know she is going to make a great contribution over the years and help us increase our commercial income which we desperately need to do."

Goncaruk added: "I have worked with Mr Romanov's business for a long time. I was recently working with him in Milan and now that I am here I am very excited by the prospect.

"I will be trying to develop a stronger brand at Hearts and working very closely with the chief executive and the board to do that.

"I have worked with Mr Romanov since I graduated so that's about five or six years now. I know him very well as a businessman and when he has a goal he always achieves it. He is very optimistic about the development of Hearts and if we all work together I'm sure we can take the club forward."

Taken from the Scotsman