Hearts and Partick supporters donate money to help Stranraer after relegation

Hearts and Partick Thistle supporters have rallied in support of fellow relegated club Stranraer by donating money.

Iain Dougan, chairman at Stair Park, confirmed more than £2,000 poured into his club via the Donate A Ticket website inside 24 hours after relegation was confirmed for all three on Monday.

The collapse of league reconstruction talks meant Hearts, Thistle and Stranraer would not be reinstated to the leagues they occupied last season.

Instead, they will play in the Championship, League 1 and League 2 respectively, although Hearts and Partick have mounted a joint legal challenge against the Scottish Professional Football League.

Sympathetic fans from Tynecastle Park and Firhill have since used www.donateaticket.com to help raise money for Stranraer.

Dougan, pictured, told the Galloway Gazette: “When we first took part it went well, but like anything I think we had drained that.

“But the relegation, when it was confirmed, seemed to bring a kickstart and we got a lot of Hearts supporters and a few Thistle supporters actually donating to it on our behalf, so we jumped over £2,000 in 24 hours.

“The amount of donations from Hearts fans especially was most of that. “It went from £3,600 to just over £6,000 since the result was announced and we are extremely grateful to everybody who donated.”

Dougan also offered praise to Raith Rovers fan Ruaridh Kilgour, who established the scheme to allow fans to donate ticket money they hadn’t been able to spend.

He said: “All the clubs involved, regardless of how much they have collected, owe a huge debt to Ruaridh for starting it up.

“That’s £6,000 which without his input, the club would not have got.”