Budge offers use of Tynecastle to other clubs as a bio-hub stadium when football resumes

Hearts owner Ann Budge has offered the use of Tynecastle as a bio-hub stadium to other clubs on a non-profit basis.

The Gorgie chairwoman laid out the benefits of using the ground for closed-doors games in her proposal on league reconstruction.

It is expected that no fans will be allowed to attend matches when the Premiership resumes.

Tynecastle is unique in that it has changing facilities and a tunnel on either side of the pitch. It means the stadium could host multiple matches.

“Our recent infrastructure investment has provided us with two sets of Uefa standard changing rooms, medical facilities, tunnels and technical areas,” Budge said. “Hearts could make these facilities available, as well as TV and media facilities. Two games could even be played on one day, without the need for deep cleaning inbetween.”

Hearts built changing facilities and a new tunnel into the Wheatfield Stand while they were rebuilding the new main stand at Tynecastle.

Claiming to be in position to fund the testing equipment and resources needed to enable a safe return to training and to playing, those resources could be shared with other clubs, on a non-profit basis, thanks to the duplicate match facilities in opposite stands at the Gorgie ground.

Budge added: “The possibility of operating through ‘hubs’ is currently being considered and if that route proved to be sensible, Hearts is very well placed to help. Geography would undoubtedly play a part in this, but we would be happy to offer the use of Tynecastle’s facilities, on a nonprofit basis, to other Premiership, Championship or League 1 clubs, where fixture scheduling allowed.

“We need clubs who have the resources and the infrastructure to be able to meet these requirements, and indeed the willingness to do so, if we are to generate this much needed income stream from broadcasting for everyone.”