Fans push to see Euro matches returned to Tynecastle

THE board of directors at Hearts are to consider returning European matches to Tynecastle next season after supporters volunteered to make up any resulting financial shortfall incurred by their club.

Murrayfield has been hired as a European home for Hearts in recent campaigns due to its ability to provide expansive capacity and executive facilities compared with Tynecastle. The club recorded their second biggest European crowd of 32,459 there when AEK Athens visited for August's Champions League qualifier.

Despite the opportunity to generate greater revenue by holding matches at the home of Scottish Rugby, a lack of atmosphere has gnawed at Hearts supporters during matches with Siroki Brijeg and Sparta Prague this season.

Fans have contacted the club since their elimination from the UEFA Cup last month to petition for a return to their spiritual home for European games, with many insisting they would be willing to pay increased ticket prices at Tynecastle to compensate for any lost income.

John Borthwick, secretary of the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs, told the Evening News: "People have said to me that they would pay maybe an extra five or ten pounds on their ticket price. We're stating the obvious here but Tynecastle is probably too small to hold all the people who want to go and watch the games. However, the other side of the coin is that Murrayfield is too big. The bottom line for us is the atmosphere, I think that is what got to most supporters at Murrayfield.

"I think the vast majority of Hearts fans would support the idea of having future UEFA Cup games at Tynecastle."

A Hearts spokesperson added: "This is a matter for discussion at board level. Both venues are currently on the agenda for next season, although no decision will be made in the immediate future. It is very important that we strike a balance which considers a number of aspects, including bringing more supporters to watch Hearts while ensuring the team have every possible advantage in terms of atmosphere."

Assuming they qualify for European competition next season, Hearts would be unable to hold Champions League matches in Gorgie due to Tynecastle's pitch size. However they could exercise the option of applying to UEFA for special dispensation to play the tournament's qualifying matches there.

The dimensions of the Tynecastle surface, which were extended in the summer of 2005, meet the minimum international standards of 100m by 64m and therefore would be suitable for the UEFA Cup. But for the Champions League, UEFA will usually insist that a club's playing surface measures at least 105m by 68m, which Tynecastle does not.

Hearts last held a European tie at their home stadium in November 2003, when the French club Bordeaux visited in the second round of the UEFA Cup.

Meanwhile, striker Mauricio Pinilla could be facing a spell on the sidelines after returning to Edinburgh with a calf injury sustained on international duty with Chile.

The on-loan Sporting Lisbon striker is not in plaster but had an ultrasound scan on the area late afternoon yesterday and Hearts' medical staff were awaiting the results today.

"He went for his scan and we are simply waiting now," said assistant coach John McGlynn.

"What the scan shows up will depend on whether we have to look at further treatment for him. The injury was picked up in Mauricio's second game against Peru. He didn't arrive back here until Friday night but he is not in plaster."

The next step for Pinilla would then be an MRI scan should Hearts require to take things further.

Saulius Mikoliunas is likely to sit out one match - Saturday's meeting with Kilmarnock - after his red card in the Edinburgh derby.

FC BASLE manager Christian Gross is monitoring Hearts' Finnish striker Juho Makela.

Taken from the Scotsman