Hearts to consider ground-sharing

Foulkes was instrumental in keeping Hearts at Tynecastle

Hearts chairman George Foulkes says ground-sharing with Hibs is a possibility while the main stand at Tynecastle is redeveloped.

Foulkes plans to canvas supporters' opinions on the matter.

"There are obvious alternatives if we are going to move to another stadium on a temporary basis," he told The Herald.

"There is Easter Road, Dunfermline's ground and Murrayfield, but we will discuss the matter with fans and the shareholders before anything happens."

However, the early indications are that supporters would be against a temporary move to the home of their great rivals.

"Easter Road would not be one of my preferences," John Borthwick, secretary of the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs, told the Evening News.

"I don't think it would be an option that would go down well with the fans purely because it is the home of Hibernian."

Hearts are expected to lodge an outline planning application for the required work with Edinburgh Council in the near future.

"There is obviously a chance we could continue to play at Tynecastle when the new main stand is being built but, if we did, then the capacity would have to be cut from around 17,000 to 13,000, which would not be ideal," added Foulkes.

"That might be considered self-defeating when we are trying to increase the capacity and encourage more people to come to matches.

"We have not entered into any formal talks with the officials at these (other) grounds because it's far too early to do that."