Members Update - Vote Results
Dear Owner,
I am very happy to let you know that Foundation members have voted to accept the proposed investment in the club by Tony Bloom. With a 70% turnout, a total of 6208 votes were cast in the consultation exercise, with 6112 voting in favour and 96 voting against. In percentage terms, this resulted in 98.5% voting in favour of the proposal.
I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation process. Clearly it is a huge majority in favour and this demonstrates - once again - the passion the Foundation members have for the club and their determination to see it move forward and reap the benefits of the financial investment.
We have a wonderful opportunity now, I believe, to begin to tackle the challenge of becoming a disruptor of the long-standing status quo in Scottish football. It will take time, and it will require the continued – and indeed increased – financial commitment of Foundation members, current and new, to achieve this goal, but we have never been better placed to reach that position. Tony Bloom’s decision to invest in Hearts was very much founded on the many benefits he saw at Tynecastle through the club being in fan ownership, not least its financial security through the level of our pledging. What a testament to you, the supporters, and what a moment to be able to build on this, increase our membership, and drive forward together.
The consultation process was also a great demonstration of the power of fan ownership. Not for Hearts fans the scenario of waking up to find that a deal has been reached behind closed doors with some rich person to take over their club. Foundation members were able, as their right, to scrutinise the offering and make a decision, yes or no. That is the level of influence and power that we the fans now have here, thanks to you.
Stepping up engagement
The recent level of engagement with members has not been restricted to the videos and meetings regarding the potential investment. In recent weeks we have also seen the launch of our monthly Pub Nights at the fans’ bar when supporters, members or not, can drop by and chat with key figures in the Foundation. And thanks to the work of our board member Claire Hammond, we have held two successful ’90 Minutes With’ events, one with Graeme Jones and another with Andrew Webster. These events will continue throughout the year, and - through the hard work of board members and other volunteers - they will be supplemented by other initiatives as we step up our communications and engagement, as promised.
Maroon Mile developments
We also continue to be at the very heart of the Maroon Mile project, an initiative which was driven at the very outset by the Foundation. The latest development on this was the launch of a new Maroon Mile wall in the museum which includes three interactive touchscreens. These include a timeline of Hearts’ history, a Top Trumps game, and an oral history archive. The presentation is dynamic and fascinating, not only for Hearts fans but also for anyone associated with the Gorgie-Dalry community, and I hope as many of you as possible will be able to visit it soon.
More Maroon Mile initiatives are in the pipeline as this imaginative project continues to unfold.
Coaching changes
Finally, on behalf of all Foundation members, I want to extend a very warm welcome to Derek McInnes, Paul Sheerin, and Alan Archibald as they take up their coaching positions here at Tynecastle. They join the club at a fascinating time and we wish them the very best. I want to pay tribute to our board member Gary Locke who played an important role in the selection process for these appointments, and I also want to pay tribute to Liam Fox who, I think we can all agree, did a wonderful job when called on. A true Hearts man who has done so much for the club, we wish him the very best in his career.
With thanks again - and have a great summer.
Kind regards
Gerry Mallon
Chair, Foundation of Hearts