Gary: We need you

22.06.2013

Boss Gary Locke has urged all the Hearts fans who turned out to celebrate the Jambos' Scottish Cup triumph over Hibs to do their bit for the club in its hour of need.

More than 100,000 supporters participated in the open-top bus parade through the streets of Edinburgh 24 hours after the famous triumph at Hampden Park last May and the manager has stressed their backing is more critical than ever as the club attempts to survive administration.
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Around 500 season tickets were snapped up in the 24 hours since administrators BDO made the stark warning that Hearts could face even worse consequences if the next fortnight didn't see enough cash brought in. And while acknowledging the magnificent fund-raising efforts of the Gorgie faithful towards the end of last year, Gary is confident they will once again step up to the plate.

He said: "Thursday was as bad a day as I've had in football. To see so many terrific people losing their jobs was heartbreaking. I was there when they were coming out the door upset and it was very difficult. You can offer words of comfort, that's all you can do. There were a couple of tears because you get emotionally tied to people who work at the club.

"I had a good meeting with the administrators on Thursday. They told me everything, although it wasn't something I wanted to hear. The told me the truth and told me how it is.

"We're in a bleak, bleak position. There's no money. If the fans don't rally round the club, we won't be here. That's it in a nutshell. I saw how the fans rallied round the club last year. I'm one myself so I'm hoping we can reach the target of 3000 season tickets because that's what we need to stay afloat.

"It's a time when we all stand shoulder to shoulder. Anyone that was on the streets after we won the cup, it's now time for them to step up to the plate."

When asked is he had sympathy for the fans being asked to find even more money in a challenging financial climate, the gaffer added: "I do, but I'm one myself. They put so much money into the club last season. We're not stupid. We know the financial climate, the whole world at the moment, the recession, and we're asking them again for their money and I'm pretty sure, being one myself, that they'll give us it.

"The situation is bleak. That's the message that I've got to get across. We need the backing of everyone that has the club at heart. It's easy for me to sit here and say I'm 100 per cent convinced it will happen, but we need it to happen. We need the fans more than ever now. If they back the club in the next two weeks, as I'm 100 per cent sure they will do, we've got a chance. No-one is bigger than this club. Not me, the staff or any of the players. It's important this club survives and, at the minute, things are looking very bleak.

"So far the fans are doing what they did last year when everything went pear-shaped. They are backing the club. They are putting their money where their mouth is. To be fair, that's what I expect. I've got friends, family, my kids, who will be doing the same, just making sure that there's a football club here because, at the end of the day, that's the most important thing."

Hearts World