Hearts change Player of the Year awards plan due to Rangers game
Edinburgh club take a rethink after SPFL fixture announcement
Hearts are reorganising their Player of the Year awards night after the Scottish Professional Football League scheduled a key game against Rangers for the following day. Tynecastle officials have contacted fans who bought tickets for the dinner to explain their alternative plans, which will now involve first-team players appearing for a shorter time than initially planned.
The SPFL’s post-split fixture list includes Hearts v Rangers at Tynecastle Park at 5.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May. Hearts will host their annual Player of the Year awards dinner the previous night, Sunday 3 May, at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. The event will now begin earlier, with a drinks reception at 3.45pm and an official start time of 4.45pm.
The first-team squad will be in attendance but will leave after the first hour to continue preparing for the Rangers match, which could be pivotal to their hopes of winning the Scottish league title for the first time since 1960. Normally, Hearts players would be present for the entire evening but the club, while trying to make the best of a difficult situation, decided under the circumstances to cut their night short on this occasion.
Head coach Derek McInnes gave permission for players to be present and mix with supporters and guests. However, the Rangers match is of paramount importance to Hearts. For that reason, the players’ attendance will be curtailed rather than stopped altogether. PFA Scotland are hosting their awards dinner on the same night in Glasgow and it remains to be seen how many Rangers players attend for the same reason.
Hearts explored many different options trying to find the best solution to their POTY event. In an email to fans who have bought tickets at £170 each, club officials explained their reasons for changing the schedule. The message read: “We are writing to inform you of some changes to the schedule at this year's Player of the Year Awards, sponsored by hummel. With the announcement of our SPFL Premiership post-split fixtures, it immediately became apparent that the match against Rangers on 4 May would have an impact on proceedings at POTY.
“Clearly, this could be a pivotal game in the first-team's already incredible season and as such, preparations for this match will not allow for the players to fully attend an event the night before. However, we are fully committed to delivering the best night possible at POTY. Several alternative arrangements were discussed but, ultimately, we do not want to inconvenience fans who have paid for tickets and set aside time in their diaries.
“Therefore, POTY will remain on Sunday, 3 May, but with an earlier start time of the drinks reception at 3:45pm before beginning the event at 4:45pm. The reason for this is it will allow the first team to attend the event and celebrate the season to date with fans, before departing around an hour into the event to continue their preparations for the Rangers game.
“Normally, the players would be in attendance for the entire night and we understand that their appearance being curtailed is disappointing, but we hope that supporters understand that the first team being in the best condition possible for an important match takes priority above all, and that by bringing forward the event start time fans and players can still share the room, recognise each other's efforts during season 2025/26 and create some special memories together.
“Once the players have left the event proceedings will continue, with more awards, dinner at the new time of 7pm, our hugely popular video packages, on stage speeches, a raffle and auction, and much more, before wrapping up at 11pm. We hope fans understand that this situation is out of the club's control but, again, we are totally committed to providing an unforgettable evening celebrating the great and the good of Heart of Midlothian Football Club.”