Benefactors give Jambos £1m player wage bonus
HEARTS owner Ann Budge has revealed mystery benefactors handed over £1million towards player wages in their annual accounts yesterday.
The Tynecastle club declared turnover has increased from £11.255m in 2017 to £12.131m in the year ending June 2018.
Although pre-tax profit is down from £2.321m to £1.805m, they have built a new main stand which has seen their gate receipts rising by over £1m.
And in a statement Budge said an “exceptional” £1m donation had allowed Hearts to “enhance our playing budget for the year”.
The club also raised more than £400,000 in player sales and boast more youngsters in their first team than any other side in Europe.
Budge added: “From a financial perspective and despite all the challenges we have faced and are continuing to face, we have once again achieved our major objective which was to grow our revenues profitably.
“In particular, our turnover increased from £11.3m to £12.1m during the year.
“To support this growth, our operating costs have inevitably increased from £5.4m to £6.1m, matching the trend of the increase in our turnover.”
Budge also said Hearts are “already seeing the positive impact of investment in season 2018/19” with Craig Levein’s side currently sitting second in the Premiership.