Hearts explore new training ground vision ahead of imminent Oriam talks

Hearts are keen to one day have a training complex they can call their own, clubs chiefs have revealed.

The club currently has held a lease at Oriam, part of the Heriot-Watt University Campus on the outskirts of the city, since 2004.

Upgrades to the Oriam, Scotland’s sports performance centre, have resulted in the likes of Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Rugby Union making use of the state-of-the-art facility. Hearts’ current lease at the Oriam runs until 2029, but the club is exploring all avenues.

Chief executive Andrew McKinlay was due to visit Aberdeen’s new Cormack Park training base, which was built for around £13million at Kingsford, on Tuesday.

Hearts have been at Oriam since 2004. Picture: SNS

Nevertheless, Hearts are happy with their current situation at Oriam – which also house the academy and women’s teams – and conversations will soon take place with Oriam chief executive Ross Campbell to look at ways to develop the partnership further.

“We are going to meet him to discuss future plans,” sporting director Joe Savage told supporters at a Foundation of Hearts open members event.

"They want to help us and are absolutely keen to help us and do what they can to develop the relationship and better it.

"For me personally having your own training ground is crucial for the personal development of your players. Going forward we would love to have our own training ground but I am not naive enough to sit here and think we can get it done next week or a year's time.

"We’ve got seven years left on the lease with the Oriam, we're just getting on with the job.”

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