Foundation of Hearts inundated with new pledges as Tynecastle support create siege mentality after reconstruction rejection

Hearts fans have continued to show their backing to the club and Foundation of Hearts.

The news that league reconstruction had failed, consigning the Tynecastle side to at least a season in Championship, has rallied the fan base, bringing them together, resulting in a deluge of new or increased pledges.

With more than 6,500 season tickets already sold for next season, the last 24 hours has brought about 300 new or increased contributions to the fan-led group.

Foundation of Hearts chair Stuart Wallace told the Evening News: “Many clubs in Scotland yesterday shirked their duty of care, that fleeting opportunity to look after a fellow member club, they chose instead to turn their back on us.

“Our incredible fans did not, yet again they met the challenge full on. They own this club in every way imaginable and when they soon become the majority shareholder through Foundation of Hearts, they will have earned it.”

Up to this point, the organisation have raised more than £10.2million through fan support.

In April a surge of new and increased pledges allowed the Foundation of Hearts to increase the £120,000 they pass over to the club every month.

A siege mentality has been fostered amongst the Hearts support with some fans already making it known they will be boycotting many away games in the Championship next season when fans are allowed to return to games.

Following the announcement on Monday, the Foundation of Hearts wrote to their pledgers regarding their position.

They backed the club’s stance of taking legal action to challenge the decision to demote the club to the second tier, while hitting out at the league structure, governance and self interest.

Wallace said: “For many years, clubs and supporters have called for change, innovation, and new ways forward in the league structure and the running of our sport, but when it came to the bit, those with power, those alleged leaders in our community, came up very far short.

“Others will draw conclusions from this sorry development (or rather lack of development), which now sees the Scottish football authorities take a unique stance in Europe – a stance which inflicts severe and unjust damage on member clubs at an already critical time. We are heart-sorry for other clubs adversely affected by today’s events – good clubs who have been badly let down over recent weeks. For our part, however, the staggering, mean-spirited, self-interest demonstrated by certain chairmen - whose utter dearth of mettle has been fully exposed - will serve to strengthen our resolve and galvanise our efforts to take this club forward with your continued support.”

He added: “The Foundation board wholeheartedly applauds both the excellent statement issued and the commitment to fight today’s decision through the legal route. The club is right to say that it has acted with integrity throughout this affair.”