Gary won’t lose Heart

Administrator Bryan Jackson has warned they must sell 3000 season tickets in the next fortnight to survive.

Locke who admitted Thursday was his worst day in football, is confident the supporters will rise to the challenge.

He said: “It’s been horrible, absolutely horrible. Thursday was as bad a day as I’ve had in football.

“To say I’ve not had much sleep over the last 48 hours is an understatement.

“To see so many terrific people losing their jobs was heartbreaking. I was there when they were coming out the door upset and it was very difficult.

“You can offer words of comfort, that’s all you can do.

“There were a couple of tears because you get emotionally tied to people who work at the club.

“We’re in a bleak, bleak position. There’s NO money.

“If the fans don’t rally round the club, we won’t be here. That’s it in a nutshell. I saw how the fans rallied round the club last year.

“I’m one myself so I’m hoping we can reach the target of 3000 season tickets because that’s what we need to stay afloat.” Locke agrees it is unfair to ask a support that has constantly dug deep to keep Hearts going to do so again.

But he insists the club simply have no other option.

SunSport understands over 500 fans snapped up season books at Tynecastle when the club opened for business yesterday.

Ex-Jambo Ryan McGowan has already pledged to buy a season book for every 1000 sold and pass it on to a fan who can’t afford one.

And Locke is hopeful more supporters will come out and back the club over the next few days.

He said: “The situation is bleak. That’s the message that I’ve got to get across.

“So far they are doing what they did last year when everything went pear-shaped — they are backing the club. They are putting their money where their mouth is.

“I’ve got friends, family, my kids, who will be doing the same, making sure there’s a football club here.

“That’s the most important thing.”