Hearts Chair Ann Budge Faces Divided Fan Opinion

Some Hearts fans express a desire for Ann Budge to resign as the club’s chair. This sentiment arises despite a recent victory against St Johnstone and an upcoming Edinburgh derby, prompted by what is described as an “abjectly poor” season. A particularly notable low point was last Thursday’s defeat by Petrocub, which is considered among the club’s “worst-ever results” due to the high stakes involved. The author emphasizes that Hearts “simply had to win at home against the worst side in the competition, who had nothing to play for.” While acknowledging the players’ need to “take responsibility” and previously stating that Neil Critchley “needs to start taking flak,” the author suggests a broader examination beyond on-pitch performance is necessary to understand the club’s issues. Acknowledging significant off-pitch developments, the text notes an “incredible transformation” over the past decade. This includes the construction of a new main stand, the addition of a hotel, and the integration of women’s and girls’ teams into the club structure. Furthermore, revenue has seen a substantial increase, rising from £6 million to over £20 million during this period. Despite these off-field improvements, the author questions the on-field achievements for Hearts supporters over the same period. The team’s record includes three Scottish Cup final defeats, two appearances in European group-stage football (both secured by finishing third in the league), and two periods battling relegation, one of which resulted in a spell in the Championship, with another relegation struggle currently underway. The Hearts fan base is described as having three distinct viewpoints regarding Ann Budge. One segment “vehemently want her out yesterday,” with social media commentary often citing her perceived dislike of confrontation and tendency to surround herself with “yes people” as key weaknesses. Conversely, another group supports Budge, referring to her as the “saviour of Hearts,” highlighting her role in financing the club over the last decade and attracting significant investors such as James Anderson and Tony Bloom. The third and arguably largest group, which the author identifies with, is characterized as “apathetic.” These supporters attend games out of “habit, rather than expectation,” finding it a “chore.” While this group would not strongly advocate for Budge’s departure, they would also not actively campaign for her to remain. The author concludes that discussions about Budge’s leadership at the club should continue, irrespective of the outcome of the upcoming Edinburgh derby.