Dunfermline Athletic 1 Hearts 2: 3000 Jambos fans back their club in 'administration friendly'

HEARTS manager Gary Locke praised the supporters for turning out in such big numbers at East End Park.
Hearts supporters pack out East End Park Hearts supporters pack out East End Park
SNS

HEARTS supporters continued to rally behind the club today as more than 3000 turned out at East End Park to see their team win a friendly against another club in administration.

With receipts from the 4,538 crowd split, the game was held up for 10 minutes to allow the visiting fans in.

Early goals from Brad McKay and Jamie Hamill gave them something to cheer and Hearts survived a strong Dunfermline fightback to collect the Supporters Direct Cup.

The trophy was put up, with the help of sponsor QTS, to mark the efforts of both sets of fans to save their clubs, and possibly own them.

Dunfermline fans' alliance Pars United is the preferred bidder for their club and a creditors meeting was yesterday set for July 30.

And Hearts fans are among three bidders for their club after more than 5500 set up direct debits to fund the Foundation of Hearts offer.

A surge in season-ticket sales has helped the club continue trading in the short term and that loyalty was recognised by the players before and after the game.

Hearts manager Gary Locke said: "I can't speak highly enough of our support and what they have done for the club.

"It's incredible and they certainly deserve a good team on the pitch.

"When you come out to a pre-season friendly and see the whole away end full with maroon scarves and jerseys, it gave me a lift and you could see in the first half that it gave the players a lift."

Administrators BDO will have to choose a preferred bidder for Hearts between the Foundation and two rival groups, one of which is backed by US cash and another of which involves Angelo Massone, who led Livingston to the brink of liquidation and left with the club demoted to the Third Division.

However, Hearts fans might take some encouragement from the approach of the administrators, who kept a promise to fans by rejecting a second bid from Nottingham Forest for midfielder Jason Holt this week.

Locke said of BDO, who are also in control at Dunfermline,: "They have been great from day one. The fans know exactly what's happening - three bids in yesterday.

"All in all I think there is light at the end of the tunnel, we are moving in the right direction, and that's all everyone has wanted since the day we went into administration."

Locke's mentor, Dunfermline manager Jim Jefferies, was equally encouraged by today's response.

The former Hearts boss said: "Who has ever heard of a game like this being held up for 10 minutes to let the crowd in?

"That's because of a tremendous response from the fans of both clubs.

"I think they saw a lot of good young talent, which serves well for both clubs.

"You could see how well the Hearts supporters got behind their club - they are letting them know they are behind them all the way."

The game set off at a furious pace with chances at both ends before Hearts took the lead in the ninth minute when McKay headed home David Smith's near-post corner, sparking chants of "We are staying up" and "Bring on the Hibees" from the Hearts fans.

They were two up 10 minutes later when Hamill converted a penalty after Smith went down under pressure from Chris Kane.

Dunfermline improved after the break and Ryan Thomson pulled one back when he fired inside the far post following good play from Josh Falkingham.

Former Hearts left-back Gary Naysmith appeared for the visitors as an 80th-minute substitute after being listed as a trialist, but he cannot sign because of the club's registration embargo.

Taken from the Daily Record