New stands plan for Tynecastle

HEARTS intend to increase stadium capacity at Tynecastle to 40,000 in the future after confirming their plans to move the Wheatfield and Roseburn stands back.

Majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov addressed the club's supporters' group, G10, in Edinburgh last night and revealed that he hoped to submit a planning application for a new main stand by early spring next year.

However, the long-term ambition is to restructure Tynecastle to ensure it is compliant with all of UEFA's stipulations, allowing the club to play Champions League group matches there if the opportunity arises.

Romanov admitted that holding European matches at Murrayfield, where Hearts faced Siroki Brijeg, AEK Athens and Sparta Prague this season, was not a viable long-term option, and that the club must remain in their spiritual home.

"Our project for Tynecastle is for a 40,000 capacity," he said. "The first stage is when we are planning to build a new main stand for 12,000 people because we do not have suitable accommodation for the players and we need to improve the hospitality facilities. The plan is to move the Roseburn and Wheatfield stands back."

And Romanov continued: "We are planning to submit an application by February at the latest."

At the moment, Tynecastle nursery is situated on land that Hearts wish to acquire for the building of the new main stand. The nursery is presently undergoing a consultation process and will deliver its decision on whether it is willing to move premises early next year.

Taken from the Scotsman