Gary Locke hails Scott Robinson return to Hearts

Published on 10/07/2013 12:00

HEARTS boss Gary Locke today admitted that the return of Scott Robinson was one of the highlights of their defeat to 
Dinamo Bucharest.

The little midfielder played the opening 45 minutes of last night’s friendly loss to the
Romanian side.

Heart went down 5-1 to Bucharest at Leigh Sports Village on the outskirts of Manchester in the first of their pre-season fixtures, with Jamie Hamill hitting their only goal of the game from the penalty spot.

Although Locke was disappointed with the defeat, he insisted that he would not read too much into the result and chose instead to focus on Robinson’s first match action in five months.

Prior to last night’s game, Robinson had not played since February after having surgery to repair torn knee cartilage.

But Locke, whose side face Dunfermline this weekend, reckons that the 20-year-old is now ready to step it up.

Locke said: “That was his first game for quite a few months and I thought that he did well considering that. He has still got a bit to find in terms of his fitness.

“He has been out for a long time and it takes you a while to get back to where you were.

“But he’s now got 45 minutes under his belt against a very good side and he has got to take the positives from that.

“Hopefully we can give him another hour or so on Saturday so that we can build for the start of the season.” 
Meanwhile the club was last night linked with a takeover bid from American business, Club 9 Sports.

The bid, believed to be in the region of £5 million, includes plans to move away from Tynecastle and into a purpose-built stadium on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

Hearts administrators BDO say that they have yet to receive any bids for the club and are instead focusing on Friday’s deadline for potential buyers to submit their documents.

The Foundation of Hearts, who will be submitting their own bid thanks to financial backing from supporters, insisted that they welcome any bid that will ensure the club’s long-term future.

However an FOH spokesperson insisted that any potential new owners must have the club’s fans interests at heart.

He said: “Supporters continue to sign up as bid preparations continue in earnest and the uptake has generally been very strong in the last few days, which is hugely encouraging.

“We’ve made it clear that FOH does not have any issue with a white knight who can deliver the stability and future growth that Hearts needs, so long as it is the will of the most important people, the supporters.

“For now, though, our focus is on the week’s deadline.

“The Foundation of Hearts is extremely confident about the bid it has put together.

“It combines significant

business interest, outstanding professional expertise and the personal investment of some 5000 supporters.

“The Foundation has always said it would support any plan which would allow Hearts to get back on their feet.”

Taken from the Scotsman