Hearts must get it right on pitch first - Foulkes

GEORGE FOULKES today welcomed moves to increase capacity at Tynecastle but warned Vladimir Romanov he must field his best players if he wants to fill the revamped stadium.

The former chairman was heartened by the news the club have all but secured two sites next to the ground as part of plans to build a new 12,000-seat stand.
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The Gorgie side will have to fork out almost £6million for the land currently occupied by Tynecastle High School and the adult education centre on McLeod Street in the city.

The land is key to Romanov's plans to eventually increase capacity at the stadium to 40,000 and club officials are expected to submit a planning application to the City of Edinburgh Council in February.

Foulkes was relieved to finally hear some favourable news emanating from Tynecastle, however he urged a note of caution, saying Romanov must ensure that he has a side out on the pitch who are capable of encouraging supporters to turn out to watch them week-in, week-out.

Having seen Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley dropped from the side in recent weeks, Foulkes said: "The fact that the club seems to have acquired two sites for the redevelopment of Tynecastle now is a very positive sign

"The supporters have been looking for that kind of signal from the club for a long time now, something positive.

"Now it is important that we have a team which encourages people to come along and watch it, a good team with winning ways.

"If the team are not playing well or getting the right results then crowds can fall away."

Meanwhile, the SFA was today still waiting to receive Romanov's appeal against his £10,000 fine after the Hearts owner claimed it had been lost in the post.

The deadline for any appeal passed at 5.00pm on Monday, however, the SFA was contacted by Romanov's legal advisors yesterday and they indicated an appeal had been sent.

If it is discovered that the appeal was correctly submitted, it will be heard by an independent appeals board, but if the letter is received with a postmark later than Monday's deadline, it will be thrown out by the SFA.

Romanov received the fine for comments that he made regarding referees.

Taken from the Scotsman