Ian Murray, an early driving force behind the Foundation of Hearts, has described as a “total and utter disgrace” the club’s failure to have made more of the £10 million ploughed into it by supporters during the last seven years.

That was the total reached yesterday by the fans group, of which the Labour MP was chairman in 2013. Since then, it has helped the club out of administration and acquired nearly 8,000 members who will eventually assume ownership from Ann Budge, the majority shareholder.

That transition, originally scheduled for next month, was officially put on hold yesterday because of the coronavirus crisis which has plunged Hearts into trouble on and off the pitch. Not only have they asked their staff to take a 50