Hearts today announced a brand new commentary team who will lead its online TV channel's matchday audio programme for 2010-11.

Broadcaster David Ridd will team up with former defender Jimmy Sandison in a new-look line-up on Hearts.TV.

David takes up the role of chief commentator, providing expert audio description of every Hearts game, home and away. He boasts nearly ten years of experience working as deputy sports editor at Radio Forth and then sports editor at Northsound.

Latterly David served as Aberdeen Football Club's press officer before returning to the central belt to take up a role at Material Marketing and Communications, a leading sports marketing, PR and sponsorship agency.

Jimmy becomes Hearts.TV's football analyst. A popular former defender, he made 104 appearances across all competitions during an eight-year spell at Tynecastle.

As well as providing co-commentary at every home game, Jimmy will join the team for selected away matches.

David and Jimmy will be joined by Hearts Media correspondents Craig Fowler and Amal Daher as well as regular contributor and club marketing manager Lawrence Broadie for Hearts.TV's interactive matchday service.

Mark Donaldson is leaving Scotland to take up an exciting role with ESPN as a football commentator, whilst former summariser Gary Mackay has decided to step back from his role in order to take up a position with local Edinburgh charity Harmony.

Marketing manager Lawrence Broadie said: "I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to David and Jimmy. We're delighted to have both on board.

"Of course, Jimmy is no stranger to Hearts.TV subscribers having regularly stood in for Gary Mackay in recent years, however he's now joining our team and we're delighted to have him on board.

"He's certainly not afraid to speak his mind, offering decisive and constructive opinion during games. Hearts.TV is not here to flannel our supporters, rather encourage engaging, honest and constructive debate. That policy continues with Jimmy's arrival, no doubt.

"David is an outstanding broadcaster. He's an experienced football commentator and coming from the area he knows Hearts extremely well. He is well known to me and our marketing and communications team. David is hugely respected within Scottish football and we're absolutely delighted to be bringing him on board. Our subscribers will love his passion and enthusiasm that makes his commentary style so distinctive.

"Of course with David and Jimmy joining us it's finally time to bid farewell to Mark and Gary. It's certainly an end of an era after seven years.

"Mark richly deserves his chance with ESPN in the USA and I'm sure he'll go on and become a hugely successful international broadcaster. He's a brilliant commentator. Always supportive of the club we'll certainly miss him.

"In Gary we've had the No. 1 Hearts fan with us for the last seven years which has been a real privilege for as well as being a magnificent supporter of the club he's also a very good co-commentator. I know he's keen to do something a little different right now and his role with Harmony, which came about as a result of his work with the club's Education and Community Trust really excites him.

"To both Mark and Gary we wish them every success. Both have been incredibly supportive of me, but most importantly supportive of our club. They will always be welcome here at Tynecastle - not that Gary is likely to be too far away, anyway!"

Mark Donaldson is set to appear on Hearts.TV for the final time this Sunday 29th August when Dundee United visit Tynecastle (kick-off 3pm, coverage from 2.45pm).

The new era on Hearts.TV officially gets underway when David Ridd and Jimmy Sandison team up together for the first time on Saturday 25th September as Motherwell visit Tynecastle (kick-off 3pm, coverage from 2.45pm).  

Hearts.TV is the club's official online TV channel providing audio commentary and match highlights from every game. There's also exclusive coverage of every Clydesdale Bank U19 League fixture, plus news conferences in full and exclusive interviews and features every week. Click here to sign up.

Hearts.TV International is the club's official online TV channel for overseas subscribers (ex-UK and Ireland). It provides the same services as the standard subscription as well as selected live league games, with nine of the first 15 Hearts games in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League scheduled to be shown in stunning HD. Click here to sign up.