Hearts 1 Dinamo Bucharest 5

The Chicago group were interested in buying Rangers last summer but have now switched their interest to administration-hit Jambos.

There are even suggestions they will table an offer ahead of the July 12 deadline imposed by BDO.

The proposed bid is said to include selling Tynecastle in favour of a move to a new purpose-built stadium on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

A statement in response from the Foundation of Hearts — the supporter-led favourites to take over — poured scorn on talk of a switch from their spiritual home.

A spokesman said: “We believe anyone who wants to invest in the club has to respect its history and the will of the supporters.”

The revelation came as boss Gary Locke led his team south for their first pre-season clash, against Romanian cracks Dinamo Bucharest in Leigh’s impressive Sports Village.

Understandably, Hearts looked rusty, but they’ll have drawn comfort from simply getting back on the pitch after a turbulent summer.

Locke has to contend with a threadbare 22-man squad and a 15-point penalty, so the small matter of a pre-season defeat won’t overly trouble him.

But he’ll expect better from a defence that allowed Cosmin Matei far too much room to rifle into the top corner after 15 minutes, then look equally slack five minutes later as former Hamilton striker Joel Thomas waltzed through to net.

A firm Kevin McHattie strike from distance, well saved by keeper Constantin Nica, was the most Hearts could muster before the break.

Matei doubled his tally on 51 minutes before Hearts sub Dale Carrick was tripped in the box by Srdjan Luchin and Jamie Hamill made no mistake with the penalty.

Dinamo upped the ante, spurred on by complaints over Hamill’s tackling, and added a fourth through Dorin Rotariu and No5 when Ionel Danciulescu capped a fine flowing move with a composed clip.

Boss Locke kept a sense of perspective and said: “We’re obviously not happy to lose 5-1, but they are a Champions League quality team who have played four games already.

“It was a good test and there were a lot of positives to take, considering we ended up playing our Under-18 team.”