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Hearts owner Ann Budge reveals money spent on improved security

Hearts owner Ann Budge reveals money spent on improved security
© Reuters
The Hearts owner has revealed that she has spent £100,000 on CCTV ahead of the new season.

Hearts owner Ann Budge is hoping the £100,000 forked out on CCTV at Tynecastle this summer is money well spent.

Following a series of incidents during the 2-1 win for Hibernian at the stadium in April, including the discharging of pyrotechnics and the throwing of coins, the lower section G of the Wheatfield Stand was closed for the final two league games of the campaign.

The businesswoman, who is also the chief executive and chairwoman of the Gorgie club, was speaking after being named as the 2019 winner of the Edinburgh Award, an honour in recognition of her business success and community work, and for her services to sport in the city.

Budge told Radio Clyde that there had been a positive reaction to the drive for good behaviour but that it has to continue.

She said: "I am pleased that we have made headway but we have more to do.

"One of the things that I am most pleased about, is that our supporters are beginning to use our help line, our reporting line.

"We've seen that being used a number of times last season. Also when some fans have started to sing something inappropriate, they have been booed down. So the self-policing is hugely important.

"We can do everything we can to try to prevent it and we continue to do more. We have stand managers who are employed by the club, over and above the police and other stewards.

"We have spent over £100,000 in the close season putting in CCTV.

"I would love to spend that £100,000 on something else but if that actually helps us achieve the objective of making this a family-friendly stadium, then it is £100,000 worth spending.

"The police, the stewards, ourselves, the supporters; we all have to  do our thing if we really want to stamp that out. I think we can but we all have to pull together."

Budge would also have no qualms in putting her hand in her pocket to help pay for the introduction of VAR into Scottish football.

She said: "There are many meetings going on at the moment. I am involved in one of the working groups.

"One of the things that has been talked about in the Women's World Cup is the way it is being used and interpreted. There has to be clarity over what it is being used for and how it is being used.

"All of that takes time but yes, I do think we have to keep going down that route.

"It is a lot of money as far as I understand although that is still being investigated.

"But if the clubs have to put something into it then as far as I am concerned I would be supportive of that although clearly there are other ways of funding it. We have to see what comes out."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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