Hearts fans unlock 'unique opportunity' as Wouter Vrancken to answer questions from supporters
Hearts fans will get the chance to put questions to the new head coach this month
New Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken will field questions from supporters at a question and answer session next week.
Majority shareholder Foundation of Hearts will hold their latest 90 minutes event on Monday, July 13, in the Gorgie Suite at Tynecastle. Tickets are available for FOH pledgers from 8pm on July 8. It will provide a chance for fans to gain an insight into the new manager ahead of Champions League second round qualifiers beginning later this month versus Sturm Graz.
Predesecor Derek McInnes and shareholder Tony Bloom appeared at similar events during the last Premiership season where Hearts finished second. The Foundation have also held events like this with former players and managers and Vrancken is next up to share his thoughts. The 1874 Fans Bar will open at 17:00 before the Gorgie Suite opens 90 minutes later ahead of an 20:00 start time with Vrancken.
What event is Wouter Vrancken holding with Hearts fans?
An announcement from the FOH reads: “For the first time this season join us for an exclusive evening with Heart of Midlothian Head Coach, Wouter Vrancken It's a unique opportunity to hear from our new Head Coach as he shares his thoughts on the season ahead, his football philosophy, and answers questions from Foundation of Hearts members.
“Tickets are available from 2000 on Wednesday the 8th of July. Places are limited, so book early to avoid missing out. Please note this event is for current Foundation of Hearts pledgers only, tickets and names will be checked on arrival.”
Pre-season is underway with Hearts recently returning from a warm weather training camp where they defeated league rivals St Mirren. They will face Livingston, Arbroath and Rayo Vallecano in the build-up to the first leg of action against Sturm Graz before another friendly against Raith Rovers. Then attention turns to the league campaign beginning at Aberdeen amid a busy start to the season.
Craig Halkett on Wouter Vrancken
Craig Halkett is in recovery from an Achilles injury picked up at the end of last season but has been impressed by the way Vrancken has kept him involved so far. The centre-back said: “He's been really good. He's been really impressive. Obviously bringing me out to Spain to be around the boys was something I was really happy with. I've had quite a lot of chats with him and he's been really good to me. Obviously I'm one of the longer-serving players now and it's important for him to get to know all the players he's going to be working with at the start of the season.
“He's been keen to keep me involved. I've probably become one of the more senior members of the squad, so he's leaned on me in that way. He's wanted to find out a few things about how we do things around the club. I think his ideas on the football pitch are going to be quite different from what we were used to last season and maybe in previous seasons.
“He's been keen to keep things off the pitch the way they were. He doesn't want to come in and change everything straight away. I think that's helped everyone settle in and stay focused on his football ideas, because that's where he really wants to make his mark.”