Administrator Trevor Birch Says Future Looks Bright For Heart Of Midlothian

Scottish Premier League Heart of Midlothian joint-administrator Trevor Birch insisted that "there is no reason why the Tynecastle club cannot become a succesful profit-making business," according to Allen Marshall of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. The Jambos -- £25M ($37M) in debt -- "suffered an insolvency event last month after encountering severe cash-flow problems that left them unable to pay players and staff." But with the club pulling in average crowds of around 13,000 for home games, Birch, a former CEO and chairman at the likes of Chelsea, Leeds United and Southampton, "reckons Hearts can be competitive both on and off the pitch." He said: "It should be a no-brainer to run Hearts properly. It’s such a shame it has come to this when it had the ability to be sustainable with 13,000 people coming through the turnstiles every week." Supporters' group Foundation of Hearts is "in the driving seat to be named preferred bidder" (DAILY RECORD, 7/8).