TYNIE TARGET TRADING LIFT

ANDREW MCKINLAY admits Hearts have to create a better player trading model to help ease financial pressures.

- BY IAN ORR

Off the back of posting £4.4million losses for 2023-24, the Tynecastle chief executive admits next term will be one of the most challenging in trying to balance the books.

The imminent £9.86m investment from Brighton owner Tony Bloom will help.

And McKinlay hopes long term, the Gorgie outfit will benefit from the use of Bloom's analytics company to unearth players they can then sell on for profit.

McKinlay said: "We are envisaging next season being one of our hardest seasons financially.

"It's not going to be the hardest financially compared to historical seasons.

"It's like everything in life - you get used to having a certain level of income.

"You spend based on your level of income. As a club, that's very difficult because of Europe having such ups and downs.