BDO, the administrators at Hearts, are anticipating further delays as they await confirmation that the creditors of Ukio Bankas will approve the transfer of the bank's shareholding to BIDCO, the holding company of prospective Hearts' chairperson Ann Budge.
The Lithuanian bank will hold a creditors meeting tomorrow and it is expected that the shareholding will be transferred. However, that deal is not able to be ratified until after a 20-day appeal window is served, which means that the Tynecastle club's future will continue to be clouded in uncertainty until the end of April.
In a bid to expedite what has become a protracted process, it is understood BDO's Bryan Jackson had been seeking clarity over whether the appeal window could be waived. However, the information coming from Lithuania is that there will be no short-cuts. Budge may now be left waiting until May to take charge, while there are also connotations to the club's cashflow.
Jackson stated earlier this season that the club have only enough money to get through to March so supporters could be asked to provide further funding during the appeal window.
There is at least greater certainty in the future of Craig Gordon, the former Hearts goalkeeper. The 31-year-old has been sidelined for almost two years due to injury but has been training full-time recently at Rangers' training base.
The former Scotland goalkeeper is now eager to return to playing. "I have been working very hard to get back to fitness and I'm pretty much there now. I am looking to get back into football at the earliest opportunity, I feel as though I'm fit enough to be able to do so now."
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