Hearts appoint administrators - report

Scottish Premier League side Hearts have appointed administrators, Britain’s domestic Press Association news agency said today, leaving the club on minus 15 points even before they start the new season.

The Edinburgh club announced on Monday that it was poised to make the move and had lodged papers with judicial authorities in the Scottish capital.

Auditors BDO were appointed to control the Jambos’ financial affairs and a formal announcement was expected later today, the agency said, without quoting sources.

The appointment went through without a court hearing, it added.

Hearts last week put their entire squad up for sale in a bid to raise capital to meet massive debt and other repayments but failed to pay its players on time, leading to a Scottish Premier League (SPL) transfer embargo.

The club is £25 million ($39 million, 29 million euros) in debt to two Lithuanian companies once controlled by majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov which hold large stakes in the club but are now being declared insolvent.

Hearts begin the new season against St Johnstone on August 3. The points deficit will be confirmed once the paperwork is sent to the SPL.