Romanov values Hearts at £50m

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov has placed a £50m valuation on the Edinburgh club as he seeks a buyer.

The Russia-born Lithuanian businessman has become disillusioned with football and last week announced his intention to sell Hearts, who are around £35m in debt.

Romanov told Russian news agency RIA Novosti: “The land is worth £25m, plus the players, the club with a project, are also worth £25m. That’s about 50 (million).

“It’s not the money I spent, but now that’s what it’s worth.”

Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas last weekend moved to assure fans that Romanov will continue to work in the best interests of the club but admitted they will be a “very different team” next season with senior players set to be offloaded.

A number of the playing staff are still waiting for their overdue wages for a second month, while there are question marks over their long-term home with Tynecastle proving unsuitable for redevelopment and plans for a new stadium stalling.

Fedotovas said the club were not working to a timescale in their search for a new buyer, but hinted the board were committed to “transforming the business into a much more youthful, enterprising, entertaining and financially viable club”.

In May, David Murray sold SPL champions Rangers to Craig Whyte for a nominal £1 while they were £18m in debt.