Friday 1 May 2015 16:23, UK
Hearts owner Ann Budge believes Scottish football 'could do better' as she reflects on her first season at the helm of the runaway Championship winners.
Budge was part of a consortium which rescued the club from the brink of liquidation last May following Vladimir Romanov’s time in charge, and on the field things could not have gone better for the Edinburgh businesswoman.
Having appointed Robbie Neilson as manager and brought former boss Craig Levein back as director of football at the start of the campaign, she looked on in admiration as they delivered the title to Tynecastle in record time.
However, she believes off-field matters could be handled better and is looking to attract fans back to the game who have become disillusioned with the media's 'negativity' towards the product in Scotland.
The big problem that all the clubs talk about is getting supporters back into the stadium. We really do need to address that problem.
“I think at various levels there are a number of things that we would all accept should be looked at," she told Sky Sports News HQ. “The big problem that all the clubs talk about is getting supporters back into the stadium. We really do need to address that problem.
'Entertainment'
“The media is blamed for a lot. I’m not convinced that that’s the way it should be. I think it’s up to the clubs to do what they can to make their experience more attractive. We are in the entertainment industry and I think that is sometimes forgotten about.”
Aside from attempting to woo supporters, Budge believes paying customers should be respected and given a platform to voice their opinions on the game. With the SPFL struggling to find a sponsor, Budge is adamant the bodies running Scottish football have to be more professional.
“One of the things we have to do is to communicate better and that’s with a number of different stakeholders. With the supporters we absolutely have to listen," she said.
“We can’t do everything because we are running businesses but we’ve got to say what’s going to make it better for this subset of our support or the away support. We have to listen to some of the detailed complaints that we get from supporters and try and help them to want to come back.
“It is again a huge challenge because in terms of winning or building business relationships, which is what sponsorship is all about, you have to be associated with an organisation that you’re proud or pleased to be associated with and you feel you can work with. It is a huge challenge until we solve some of the communications issues within the industry itself.
Budge concedes she would not sponsor the game in Scotland because there is currently little appeal to invest in it.
There is lots of discussion about why does everything have to be so negative. When you pick up a newspaper, generally the headlines are negative.
“I wouldn’t for a whole host of reasons. A: Is the product outdated? Yes it is. B: The image of Scottish football is not what it should be. There is lots of discussion about why does everything have to be so negative. When you pick up a newspaper, generally the headlines are negative.
“It’s talked about a lot; it’s all what’s wrong with Scottish football as opposed to what’s right with Scottish football. Okay, we have problems but there are some good things going on.
“So would I want to be associated with A: an outdated product, B: something with such a negative image, and C: an organisation where relationships are clearly going to be difficult to nurture? No.
“But I think what is needed is discussion with people who are keen to improve the situation. Open discussion. We almost need to start with a clean sheet again and fix the fundamental problems of Scottish football and then move forward.
“I’m astonished actually because there are so many things about football that just as a supporter over years I know have been up for discussion. There are a number of them currently on the table.
Celebration
“Whether it’s right to reintroduce alcohol into stadia. There are lots of different reasons some people think it's right or wrong, but we should be having sensible conversations and try to come up with appropriate answers and not just putting it on the back burner for now because it is too difficult.”
Hearts bring the curtain down on their season with a title celebration after their final match of the campaign against Rangers at Tynecastle, live on Sky Sports, on Saturday.
And Budge believes the match will be a 'special way' to say goodbye to the fans following a campaign which exceeded all expectations.
"I am definitely looking forward to it," she added. "We had a little touch of what it might be like when we played Queen of the South earlier in the season when we knew we were winning the Championship. But Saturday is going to be very, very special.
"This will be a culmination in all that’s good in Scottish football. I’ve said many times before the supporters have been amazing. We have done our best try and improve the whole experience of football.
"Everyone that comes to Tynecastle tells me what a fantastic stadium it is to visit either as a home or away support. It will be a fantastic spectacle and we will do our best to make it so.
"To say I expected this would not be true. I hoped for it of course. We planned and budgeted for it taking us two years. With Rangers and Hibs and lots of other good team there were no guarantees. So I am delighted but I didn’t necessarily expect it."
And Budge is looking for the Jambos to kick on again next year with the possibility of playing European football at the end of it a realistic target for Neilson and his players.
"We will budget conservatively. We will budget to get into the top six but privately, if you like, and in terms of all the commercial and financial decisions we make we will be aiming for top four."
