Jam Tarts could face season's stay at Murrayfield

COMPARED to previous hostile affairs when Hearts were under the stewardship of Chris Robinson, today's AGM was a relatively timid gathering. However, one alarming possibility was confirmed as nearing reality for supporters.

The chances of Hearts moving to Murrayfield next season are growing stronger by the day, and the club's European matches are guaranteed to be played at the home of Scottish rugby for the forseeable future.

Should Vladimir Romanov attain his wish of tearing down the dilapidated main stand at the end of the current season, he will attempt to rent Murrayfield for the entire 2006-07 campaign to maximise Hearts' potential for increased attendances in the meantime.

If Hearts' planning application for a new stand is not permitted in time, the Romanovs will hold off on their plans to rebuild on McLeod Street for a further 12 months until the summer of 2007.

Regardless of either scenario, Romanov will take Hearts to Murrayfield for their European encounters next season due to the tight confines of the Tynecastle pitch.

All European clubs, who can still qualify, are obliged to inform UEFA no later than April of where they intend to play the following season's European games. With Hearts still hoping to be challenging for a Champions League berth in the latter stages of the season, Murrayfield would appear the only option.

Presently, Hearts' home surface is sufficient to host UEFA Cup ties, but not Champions League matches.

"We are looking at playing our matches in Europe at Murrayfield because the tight pitch at Tynecastle is inconvenience," said director Sergejus Fedotovas during the club's 100th AGM.

"Hearts' pitch is UEFA compliant, but only for UEFA Cup games and the tight dimensions may not suit the players."

Chairman Roman Romanov, who was roundly applauded whilst holding the floor by shareholders for his and his father's efforts on behalf of Hearts, confirmed that architects are close to being appointed to design the new stand to allow a planning application to be submitted to the Edinburgh City Council.

"We are working closely with the council and the architects and we are in the process of making final decisions before submitting our application for planning permission.

"We want the application as soon as possible. As you know, we intend to knock the old main stand down at the end of this season. If we do not do it then, it would have to wait until the summer of 2007.

"That would be plan B - to continue playing at Tynecastle next season with the present facilities and wait until next year to begin the work.

"We need to increase the number of seats we have. We need that to compete with the bigger clubs. We want 25,000-26,000 seats at Tynecastle and if we are able to begin the work at the end of this season it is likely that we would play at Murrayfield for one year."

Romanov jnr also announced that Hearts have been granted an extension on the £2.3million loan capital which they were due to repay to his father's Ukio Bankas Investment Group by January 31.

He said: "UBIG continue to finance Hearts to the tune of £25million, which is made up of equity and debt. UBIG is committed to supporting the club." Finance director Stewart Fraser left Tynecastle yesterday, although he will continue to advise the club on certain financial matters.

Hearts' staff costs were announced at a total of £503,000 for the year ending July 31 2005, with the ratio of staff cost to turnover sitting at 53.9 per cent.

Romanov reiterated his family's commitment to Hearts, stating that they would not rest until they had the Gorgie club at the top of Scotland's football tree.

"It is great that our supporters are ambitious. They don't want to settle for second place. Neither do we. You don't want to set yourself up but we will do everything possible to win."

With that, he was granted another ovation from his audience followed by his swift exit to enter fresh negotiations with a prospective new signing in the Bosnian winger Mirsad Beslija, who has flown to Edinburgh for talks.

Taken from the Scotsman