Hearts settle £450,000 tax bill

Hearts say the £450,000 tax bill due to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has been paid in full.

The Edinburgh club had agreed an extension that would allow them further time to pay.

Hearts had been the subject of a winding-up petition last month after falling behind in payments.

However, the immediate threat of closure was lifted when the Edinburgh club agreed an arrangment to pay the bill in two instalments.

First-team players had agreed to defer their November salaries to help out and a group of former Hearts players set up a fighting fund to help safeguard the club's future.

Meanwhile, Hearts Youth Development Committee has thanked Hearts fans for their fund-raising.

"HYDC are very aware and grateful that many supporters, groups and Hearts FC have been raising monies to purchase shares and then donating them to HYDC to look after on their behalf," it said on Hearts' website.

"Until the share issue closes on 19 December, we are unable to thank all the people who entrusted us with the responsibility of looking after these shares.

"Suffice to say, that this is a responsibility that we will take very seriously and will always act in a way that is best for the future of Heart of Midlothian Football Club.

"The response from supporters has been tremendous, but HYDC would ask supporters to keep supporting the club in any way they can whether it be by attending matches, buying Hearts merchandise or supporting the share issue."