FOUNDATION BOARD ENDORSES CLUB STATEMENT

Foundation of Hearts chairman Stuart Wallace today emailed all pledgers to endorse the statement from club chairwoman Ann Budge. He wrote:

“Following today’s club statement, the Foundation board has discussed the issues arising from that and I want to pass on to you our views.

“There are two over-riding and linked principles which the statement makes clear. First, that the club’s business plan is geared to ensuring the sustainability of the club through and after the impact of Covid-19. Secondly, that decisions and actions taken now should not result in football debt being passed on to the next owners of the club.

These are principles which, not surprisingly, we endorse wholeheartedly. We all know the impact of the club being burdened by debt and after the years of financial support which supporters have given to the club through the Foundation, to be placed in that situation once again at the very time that fan ownership becomes a reality would be quite intolerable

“We therefore welcome the chairwoman’s stance on this and are in full agreement with the proposals she has outlined. We are very grateful to those players who have already declared their support and acceptance of the temporary measures. Others need time to process and discuss the situation based on their own personal circumstances and this too we absolutely appreciate.

“We would also like to pay tribute to the staff of the club. They have gone the extra mile to help its long-term future and we truly appreciate that.

“Everyone involved at this great club is making concessions right now, not least the fans who – in the most challenging of circumstances – are continuing to pledge and are supporting the club in other ways such as season ticket purchases. The lessons of the past are burned deeply in the Gorgie psyche. We have all learned from them, and the board of the Foundation will always support strategies which prevent past mistakes being repeated.

“Together, with some challenges, we know, we can safeguard the future of Heart of Midlothian – something the Hearts community has done in the recent past and which I have no doubt we will all do again now.”

He concluded:

“Thank you for your unbelievable support, and please stay safe and stay well.”