Big guns live on first weekend

Big guns live on first weekend

Published Jul. 11, 2013 9:15 a.m. ET

Manager Gary Locke insists any potential new owner of Hearts must prioritise the interests and long-term stability of the club.

Friday is the deadline for offers to buy the Tynecastle club, who entered administration last month with debts totalling £25m.

This has led to them being handed a 15-point deduction and put under a registration embargo.

Edinburgh businessman Bob Jamieson and USA-based company Club 9 Sports are both expected to make bids for the club along with supporters group, Foundation of Hearts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Locke's only concern, though, is the ongoing health of the club.

"I don't have a preferred bidder," he said. "I just want someone to come in and, first and foremost, have the club at heart and run it like it should be run. If I get that, I will be more than happy.

"Whoever comes in, we are just looking for Hearts to get back to where they should be, being a top club in Scotland and trying to get into Europe and challenging for cups.

"We don't want to see ourselves in this position again."

However, the 38-year-old does not expect a quick resolution to the crisis at the club.

"It would be great for us all but speaking to (administrators) Trevor (Birch) and Bryan (Jackson), I don't think it will be done overnight," he said.

"I think it is a bit of a drawn out process but obviously for myself it would be great if it was done quickly and I had an opportunity to bring in a couple of players before the (transfer) window shuts.

"But if that is not the case, we have to get on with the players we have and do our best."

Stadium future

It has been reported that the United States-based consortium will seek to move the club from Tynecastle to a new stadium.

"It's not something I have thought about," added Locke. "We are back on the

training pitch and that is the only thing that concerns me.

"If a new owner comes in and wants to move away from Tynecastle, that's up to them, it's not a question I feel I need to answer.

"At the moment, we are just happy to be here, happy to be surviving.

"You could possibly see the benefits when you look at some of the big clubs

who have moved stadiums down south but Tynecastle is our home, it is where

everyone associates Heart of Midlothian and it is a fantastic arena in which to

play football.

"You ask anyone in Scottish football, they love playing at Tynecastle and it

is certainly no different for me."

Every home in Britain will have free access to David Moyes' first match as Manchester United manager as Sky Sports offers exclusively live coverage of the champions against Swansea City on the first day of the season.

The other biggest stories of the opening weekend - Jose Mourinho's return as Chelsea manager and Manuel Pellegrini's debut as Manchester City boss - will also be exclusively live on Sky Sports, while BT Sport will show Liverpool's opener against Stoke at Anfield.

Live Premier League fixtures on Sky Sports

August

Sat 17: Swansea City v Manchester United (5.30pm)
Sun 18: Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur (1.30pm)
Sun 18: Chelsea v Hull City (4pm)
Mon 19: Manchester City v Newcastle United (8pm)
Sat 24: Aston Villa v Liverpool (5.30pm)
Sun 25: Cardiff City v Manchester City (4pm)
Mon 26: Manchester United v Chelsea (8pm)
Sat 31: Crystal Palace v Sunderland (5.30pm)

September

Sun 1: Liverpool v Manchester United (1.30pm)
Sun 1: Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (4pm)
Sat 14: Everton v Chelsea (5.30pm)
Sun 15: Southampton v West Ham (4pm)
Mon 16: Swansea City v Liverpool (8pm)
Sat 21: Chelsea v Fulham (5.30pm)
Sun 22: Arsenal v Stoke City (1.30pm)
Sun 22: Manchester City v Manchester United (4pm)
Sat 28: Swansea City v Arsenal (5.30pm)
Sun 29: Stoke City v Norwich City (1.30pm)
Sun 29: Sunderland v Liverpool (4pm)
Mon 30: Everton v Newcastle United (8pm)

October

Sat 5: Sunderland v Manchester United (5.30pm)
Sun 6:Norwich City v Chelsea (1.30pm)
Sun 6: West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal (4pm)
Sat 19: West Ham United v Manchester City (5.30pm)
Sun 20: Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (4pm)
Mon 21: Crystal Palace v Fulham (8pm)
Sat 26: Southampton v Fulham (5.30pm)
Sun 27: Chelsea v Manchester City (1:30pm)
Sun 27: Sunderland v Newcastle United (4pm)

November

Sat 2: Arsenal v Liverpool (5.30pm)
Sun 3: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur (1.30pm)
Sun 3: Cardiff City v Swansea City (4pm)
Sat 9: Norwich City v West Ham United (5.30pm)
Sun 10: Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United (12pm)
Sun 10: Sunderland v Manchester City (2.05pm)
Sun 10: Manchester United v Arsenal (4.10pm)
Sat 23: Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur (5.30pm)
Sun 24: West Ham United v Chelsea (1.30pm)
Sun 24: Cardiff City v Manchester United (4pm)
Mon 25: West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa (8pm)
Sat 30: Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion (5.30pm)

December

Sun 1: Hull City v Liverpool (1.30pm)
Sun 1: Chelsea v Southampton (4pm)

Live Premier League fixtures on BT Sport

August

Sat 17: Liverpool v Stoke City (12.45pm)
Sat 24: Fulham v Arsenal (12.45pm)
Sat 31: Manchester City v Hull City (12.45pm)

September

Sat 14: Manchester United v Crystal Palace (12.45pm)
Sat 21: Norwich v Aston Villa (12.45pm)
Sat 28: Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (12.45pm)

October

Sat 5: Manchester City v Everton (12.45pm)
Sat 19: Newcastle v Liverpool (12.45pm)
Sat 26: Crystal Palace v Arsenal (12.45pm)

November

Sat 2: Newcastle v Chelsea (12.45pm)
Sat 23: Everton v Liverpool (12.45pm)
Sat 30: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (12.45pm)

share