Business community is key

29.11.2012

Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas today urged Hearts supporters for an additional push to help the club reduce the previously projected £2 million deficit it faces between now and the end of the season.

With a little less than three weeks left of the Share Issue which was launched to supporters on 27 October, he praised fans for their efforts in generating almost £700,000 in the first full month of the Offer and set £1 million as an achievable target. This would equate to £100,000 being raised weekly until the Share Offer closes at 5pm on 19th December. The Hearts director also encouraged the business community to back the club in its hour of need.

Sergejus said: "If we were to break through the £1 million level for share sales it would be a significant step towards stabilising the club. We can only do this with everyone's help and that particularly includes the Edinburgh business community.

"We would like to think they will now step forward and back us as one of the city's greatest sporting institutions in order that we can continue contributing to the city both on and off the football field. Achieving the million -pound mark will not in itself provide us with guaranteed security through until the end of the season as we will still have a financial shortfall, but it will assist us greatly in keeping the club going in the forthcoming weeks.

"Following the end of the share issue on December 19 we will be reviewing all possible options in order to address the remaining gap if the share issue is not fully subscribed. The most important task for us is to ensure we keep the club alive until next summer."

Hearts could also benefit from other non-projected income streams such as progress in this season's William Hill Scottish Cup and the Scottish Communities League Cup. But most of all the key lifeline is ticket sales, a point highlighted by Sergejus.

"For the remaining 10 home league fixtures this season, if we were to achieve attendances of over 16,000 at Tynecastle then this would inject a much-needed £800,000 into the club and ensure our survival through until the end of the season. If we achieve a good run of sales in both the share issue and tickets in December it gives us a hope of improving our squad in January. It is in our power to do this and we hope that fans will continue to rally to the cause."

Hearts' next home game is against Aberdeen on Saturday, December 8, with tickets available through the Ticket Centre at Tynecastle Stadium, or 24 hours a day at www.heartsfc.co.uk or by phoning 0871 663 1874 (option 1).

Half Season tickets, starting at only £25 for U12s, will also be available to buy next week via Zebra Finance, cheque or cash transactions.

Hearts World