Hearts fans get shirty at England strip offer

HEARTS have apologised to 7000 fans who were offered free English football tops in a credit card promotion.

Baffled subscribers to Hearts World - the official club website - received an e-mail promoting the MBNA Official England Football Credit Card - with the added incentive of a free English top to wear while cheering on Sven-Goran Eriksson's men in the upcoming World Cup finals.

The gesture rubbed salt into the wounds of Tartan Army followers with no team to support after Scotland failed to qualify for the finals in Germany.

Red-faced website operators Premium TV (PTV) sent fans a grovelling apology on behalf of the Tynecastle club the following day, after staff realised they had sent fans the offending offer.

PTV said: "We wish to sincerely apologise for the serious error in an e-mail sent to you yesterday promoting the MBNA Official England Football Credit Card.

"Our technical partner, Premium TV, sent this e-mail and was distributed without Heart of Midlothian's final approval.

"Once again we acknowledge the seriousness of the error and can only apologise for any offence caused."

A website promoting the card informs potential clients that using it "means you're directly contributing to football as a whole in England".

But supporters of the Tennent's Scottish Cup winners today said there was little enthusiasm for uptake of the card, pictured below, despite its colour having a passing resemblance to the club's maroon shirts.

Ian Richardson, secretary of the Willie Bauld Memorial Club, said: "Hearts fans will not be too happy about this. They are right to put out an apology.

"Some Hearts fans will be offended and others will just laugh it off. It's a silly mistake to make."

Former Lord Provost and Hearts fanatic Eric Milligan said: "It seems a bit bizarre. I won't be asking for an England credit card, nor will I be painting my face with a George cross or wearing Union Jack underpants - but I would like to see England do well and hope their many talented players like Steven Gerrard do themselves justice."

Tom Harris, secretary of Bonnyrigg Hearts Supporters Club, was surprised by the tone of the apology.

He said: "I thought it was quite strange to send out this offer, though I was surprised by the lengths they went to with their apology.

"They said they didn't give their permission for the initial e-mail to be sent out and I think people will understand that.

"Hearts are trying their best to market the club and if they are using various different outlets, outlets will get things wrong. I see that a few people who have posted messages on a fans' website weren't too chuffed about it."

A Hearts spokeswoman claimed the club had not received a single complaint about the e-mail. She said: "I monitor our website feedback and it has not come up."

She added: "We [at the club] did not write the apology because we did not do anything wrong.

"The apology has come from PTV on behalf of Hearts.

"PTV are our commercial partners who host the website for Hearts. When people subscribe they can click if they wish to receive third party e-mails."

A spokeswoman for PTV said: "Regrettably, on Wednesday afternoon a small number of Heart of Midlothian FC supporters received an official England credit card e-mail campaign.

"Premium TV was managing the campaign on behalf of MBNA, and take full responsibility for this error.

"Premium TV would like to apologise for any offence this mistake may have caused and has e-mailed those fans that were affected with a personal apology."

The apology came after Scotland manager Walter Smith said First Minister Jack McConnell was right not to back England at the World Cup, admitting that he would not be supporting the Auld Enemy either.

Taken from the Scotsman