Ann Budge has revealed this was the first season she has been happy to splash cash on players at Hearts after landing guaranteed European group stage football.
The Jambos finished best of the rest behind Celtic and Rangers and lost out in the Scottish Cup Final to then boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side at Hampden meaning they landed the Europa League play-off spot that goes with the winner of the tournament. That meant a guaranteed eight games in Europe with Europa Conference League proper guaranteed.
That allowed the Tynecastle club to plan accordingly and have a real 'slackening of the purse strings' to help Robbie Neilson land the players he needed to strengthen his side and repeat the feat once again - the main goal of this season. The capital club are in Scottish Cup action on Friday night against Hamilton Accies with a quarter-final place up for grabs. They also sit third in the Premiership once again with a healthy points advantage and as long as nobody below them in the standings lifts the famous old trophy if they don't and they end best of the rest another guaranteed adventure awaits. This will also come with the financial boost they experienced this year with the aim to be in the same situation year in, year out.
