Pressley backs fans' call for return of Gorgie's Euro nights

HEARTS captain Steven Pressley today backed fans' proposals to play the club's future European ties at Tynecastle.

As revealed in yesterday's Evening News the Jambos board are set to consider the idea after supporters' groups told them they would be willing to pay slightly increased ticket prices if it meant quitting Murrayfield.

The home of Scottish Rugby has been hired by the Gorgie club for the previous two seasons for European games due to its ability to hold bigger crowds and its executive facilities.

However, despite attracting their second biggest ever attendance for a European tie against AEK Athens in August - 32,459 spectators were at the game - the sheer scale of the ground means much of the atmosphere is lost.

The switch to the venue - capacity 67,800 - also seems to have coincided with a dip in the club's home European form as they've slumped to four defeats in the six matches they've played there.

And Pressley admitted he would be in full support of any decision that saw the team return to their spiritual home.

"It would be great in the future if we could hold the fixtures there," said Pressley, who yesterday helped launch the supporters' charter.

"I don't ever like to look for excuses in terms of performances but I think it's more beneficial to be playing at your home stadium than at Murrayfield.

"Yes it was a great place to play but there is no doubt that we are far more comfortable playing at home. Hopefully in the years to come we will be able to redevelop the main stand and the Champions League can come to Tynecastle."

Four of Pressley's team-mates - Edgaras Jankauskas, Bruno Aguair, Tiago Costa and Jose Goncalves - were at Parkhead last night to watch Celtic take on Benfica in the Champions League.

The Jambos got to within 180 minutes of that stage only to crash out in the third qualifying round as they slumped to a 5-1 aggregate defeat to AEK Athens.

And Scotland internationalist Pressley admitted that seeing their SPL title rivals taking to the pitch against some of Europe's elite clubs is when it really hits home how close Hearts were to joining them.

"There is definitely a touch of envy when you look at that game," he said. "European nights are very special and every player at this club wants to be involved in those. It was a great experience for ourselves and gave us a taste of what to expect.

"The main thing is that it can't just be a one-season thing, we have to try and put ourselves up there on a regular basis.

"And if we continue to progress I think we will definitely sample group-stage football.

"There wasn't a great deal between ourselves and AEK Athens.

"We aren't a million miles away and if you were to give us another crack at Athens over two legs I think we could possibly beat them.

"We lost our goals over there late in the game when we had players sent-off and there's a very thin line between success and failure. We are definitely very close."

Taken from the Scotsman