Tynecastle land deal disputed

Scottish Hearts was planning on redeveloping Tynecastle but concerns that the council may be selling land to the club too cheaply may dash its hopes.

Liberal Democrat councillor Tom Ponton raised the issue and now wants the site valued independently.

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov was going to submit a planning application this month to tear down the main stand at Tynecastle and replace it with a new 12,000-seat structure, but Ponton's interference will delay those plans.

The club had made a deal with City of Edinburgh Council to pay about GBP 4.1 million for the site currently occupied by Tynecastle High School and GBP 1.8 million for the area behind the main stand.

Ponton raised concerns over the deal and it will now go before a council scrutiny panel on March 1.

"I have called it in to scrutiny because it was valued by the district valuer and we feel we want an independent valuation of the land," Ponton said.

"We've been told if we don't sell to Hearts at that price then the deal's off and the stadium won't get built. Hearts are holding a gun to our head. Well I'm sorry, but I'm not one of Vladimir Romanov's players.

"Hearts may be threatening to pull out of the whole deal but we've got to make sure we get the best value for the people of Edinburgh. We don't make any apology for that."

Councillor Brian Fallon of the city's ruling Labour group said he was sure the original value of the land would be correct.

"We're confident the deal on offer is the best we could have got for the site and we're sure the scrutiny panel will support this view," Fallon said.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.