The Foundation of Hearts have now hit £16million in donations from fans.

The supporters’ group owns the Tynecastle club after chairman Ann Budge transferred her ownership in August 2021. The IT business woman stepped in to save the club from administration and liquidation in 2014, with the promise that her shareholding would be passed over to the fans after the £2.5million she spent on acquiring shares previously held my madcap owner Vladimir Romanov had been paid back.

Punters have put their hands in their pockets and then some. Thousands pay cash via direct debits of varying levels, which along with the generosity of billionaire benefactor James Anderson, helps boost club coffers to the tune of £4.5m per year. And those monthly pledges hit £16m in just under 10 years this month. The Foundation announced the figure with a video featuring Jam Tarts No 16 Andy Halliday - cousin on Foundation director Garry.

A Foundation statement read: "This month we clocked up more than £16million of pledges. Thank you to all the co-owners for their fantastic support."

Hearts released their annual accounts last week. Those revealed that turnover was up to a record £20.8m. That figure is up 42 per cent on the previous year with an increase of £6.1m. A focus on increased commercial operations meant that particular revenue stream was boosted by £2.1m.