Hearts to play home games at Murrayfield

Hearts will move their first three home games of the new season to Murrayfield after delays in the construction of their £12 million main stand.

The Jambos expected to unveil the new structure when they welcomed Aberdeen on September 9.

But chairwoman Ann Budge admits that is no longer possible.

The Gorgie outfit will now stage that Dons clash at the home of Scottish rugby, as well as their October 21 visit of St Johnstone and the showdown with Rangers a week later.

Partick Thistle have also agreed to flip their September 23 fixture, with that match now taking place at Firhill.

Hearts have already agreed to play their first four Ladbrokes Premiership ties of the season away from Edinburgh.

The delay means supporters will now not get to watch their team from the new stand until the November 4 meeting with Kilmarnock.

In a statement, Budge said: “The wettest June/July in years, coupled with the late delivery of seating from the Far East, due to shipping issues, means we will have to invoke our contingency plan and play our first few home fixtures at BT Murrayfield.”

It is not the first time Hearts will have made use of Murrayfield’s 67,000-seater arena.

They staged European games there between 2004 and 2007.