Chief Executive Officer Andrew McKinlay joined Hearts TV for his latest quarterly update on all things Heart of Midlothian.
Subjects covered include the first team, Eva Olid’s pending departure from Hearts Women, Player of the Year, and much more.
In a rush? Catch the headlines below.
On the club going into the post-split fixtures top of the league….
“As you can imagine, we're delighted.
“We look back to a year ago and where we were sitting at this time last year and I don't think any of us could have imagined this, to be brutally honest. It's been wonderful but there's still five big games to go and we still fully believe we can get this over the line. It's been a fantastic season, no matter what happens, but that's not the way we're thinking at the moment.
“It's not about that. It's about now finishing off what we've started, and the guys have done amazingly to get us to this situation. I need to thank the fans hugely around that piece.
“I sit there, watch these games, and I know where my nerves are - and I'm amazed that my heart is still going - but the fans have been magnificent. Their support on the road and at Tynecastle, I've never seen anything like it.”
On the club’s start to 2026/27 Season Ticket Sales…
“I give my thanks to those season ticket holders who have put their money on the table already and renewed. I'm sure many more will renew as we go through the end of the month and payday and I've no doubt we will sell out again and that's just thanks to the fans for continuing to step up.
“We did have a slightly higher price increase this year but again, I appreciate the fans’ understanding of that, and we do need to look at our pricing because we want to maintain what we're hoping to get used to on the pitch for seasons to come. Thank you to all of them who are renewing or will renew in the coming weeks.”
On latest stadium improvements to Tynecastle…
“Each time we've been in Europe we've always had to make changes. Over the years there's been things like dugouts, floodlights, and various other bits and bobs. One of the things that we've struggled with has been working space for the media.
“Given where we are in the league, we have to look at all eventualities for next season: meaning we must look at what's required in all three European competitions. The club must be able to satisfy UEFA that we'll be able to host the press whichever competition we may end up in.
“Therefore, we are having to make some changes around the location of the press box, which unfortunately will be displacing some fans. I’m sorry for that because I know people don't like to move but hopefully, we'll get them into other really good, if not better, seats than they're currently in.
“I think in the main there's been a real understanding there - that it's something that we've had to do to make sure we can play our games at Tynecastle which we're all wanting to do. We're all desperate for that to be Champions League but we'll see how that all pans out.”
On Player of the Year…
“The Rangers game occurring on Monday night has obviously meant a knock-on effect to player availability on the Sunday when we host our Player of the Year evening.
“I know people have questioned whether it should be on at all on the Sunday and that we should not do anything that puts player welfare in jeopardy given such a big game on the Monday. I can assure people that we didn't make any decisions around this without consulting with the team, with the manager, with our sports science people who understand these issues.
“The solution that we've come up with is something that is acceptable to everyone and will have no adverse impact on the players for the game on the Monday. We would not do anything that would adversely impact the players for that game for obvious reasons.
“If the view had been taken that they could not attend at all then we'd have looked at alternatives. I apologise to those that it's inconvenienced given that we're going to have to go a couple of hours earlier, but I hope people will understand that it's not been easy for us to sort out. We believe this solution will cause the least inconvenience to people.
“Hopefully people that were coming will still come along and enjoy a fantastic evening. We'll get to celebrate not just the men's team at the beginning of the night, but we'll also get to celebrate the women's team and the underage groups - and toast what's been, and will continue to be, a fantastic season.
On Eva Olid’s decision to leave Hearts Women at the end of the season…
“Eva came in at a time when we were very much in a transitional phase from amateur, to semi-professional, to professional. She has seen us right through that whole period and we are now on the cusp of potentially winning the SWPL, which would be an incredible achievement.
“We've had various conversations with Eva, and we got to a stage where we both agreed that she wanted to move on to a new challenge. I think she feels after five years here that it’s the right time, and we totally understand and respect that.
"I can't thank Eva enough for what she's done, and I wish her all the best in the future. I think she'll go on to great things in the women's game and that Hearts has been a great foundation for her to go on to bigger things within the women's game. She goes with our best wishes for her future career.”
Supporters can watch Andrew's latest update in full on Hearts TV, or our Official YouTube Channel.
