CLUBS visiting Tynecastle next season are set to have their ticket allocation for league matches slashed as the Scottish Cup winners yesterday announced plans to turn over to their own fans the majority of the area traditionally set aside for travelling supporters.
The decision by the club's hierarchy to free up more tickets for Hearts fans follows the anticipated massive rush for season tickets for home matches involving the Scottish Cup holders next season. If the proposal is carried through, it could mean the away support at Tynecastle being cut by more than half, from 5000 seats to between 1500 and 2000.
Hearts chief executive Chris Robinson said yesterday that the proposal to cut back tickets on offer to visiting supporters had been made because ''the club wanted to look after their own''.
Such a move will affect Old Firm supporters who traditionally take up their total allocation of tickets for matches at Tynecastle, and possibly Hibernian fans if they are given a cup draw against their Edinburgh rivals.
The move has been forced on the club following a warning issued to the existing 10,000 Hearts season ticket holders that, given the anticipated level of demand, the club may have to set an upper limit on applications and a waiting list may have to be created.
The massive interest is the latest indication of the club's potential to maintain a challenge to the Old Firm both on and off the field. A waiting list may have to be brought in when season ticket sales reach around the 14,000 mark, 4000 short of the stadium capacity.
The possibility of such a high level of season ticket sales shows how far the club has come under chairman Leslie Deans and Robinson, who took over when the Tynecastle outfit had only around 3000 season ticket holders more than three years ago. The only area that will remain complete for visitors is a pocket at the end of the main stand.
With police confirming that more than 200,000 people took to the streets of Edinburgh to watch the club celebrate their victory on Sunday, it is clear there is massive potential still to be tapped by the club.
qMIDDLESBROUGH midfielder Hignett last night left Aberdeen impressed by the Pittodrie club's facilities but not yet ready to sign for Alex Miller's side, despite the club's staggering #8,000-a-week offer.
Aberdeen had hoped to call an evening press conference to confirm the signing, but the player and his agent appeared to be buying time in the hope that either Middlesbrough or other interested clubs, such as Everton, could match his demands.
qUnited for Change received a major boost yesterday when a leading supporters group, the Federation of Dundee United Supporters Clubs, backed their bid for a meeting with the Dundee United board, who they hoped would soon agree to such a face-to-face.
qHAMILTON Academical, who were last season tenants at Albion Rovers' Cliftonhill Stadium, last night confirmed that Partick Thistle's Firhill will be their base for the 1998-99 season.
qDUNDEE midfielder Darren Magee has accepted a new deal that will keep him at Dens Park for another year.
qKenny Dalglish, already criticised by former Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan for his tactics in Saturday's FA Cup final defeat, has been warned by the club's supporters that his time at the Tyneside club is running out fast.
John Regan, of the Newcastle Independent Supporters' Association said that, if United did not have a good start next season, a campaign would quickly gain momentum to oust the Scot.
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