Hearts chair Ann Budge admits millionaire backer James Anderson is always pushing the boundaries when it comes to the club’s ambitions. The philanthropist has already handed over £10million in donations to the Tynecastle side since the Jambos left administration in 2014.
The generous fund manager also came to the aid of the men’s and women’s games during the pandemic with a £3.25m handout. Anderson became officially part of Hearts last summer when he was appointed a director and Budge admits he urges the board to think twice as big when it comes to any future plans.
Budge said: “We all know his background and the experience he brings to the table. He is ambitious and pushes: ‘Do you want to do that, why not twice that. Go for something a bit bigger?’. He is constantly saying, ‘You can do this, but you have got to think that bit bigger’.
“He is very quiet. In meetings he will listen. The only thing he really challenges is: ‘Are you thinking big enough?’
“He is used to new ideas coming to fruition and really taking over. So, no, he is a big figure in the sense that we all value his opinion.
“That is good for the board. Initially, it was all about survival. Then we were beginning to get on the right track. Then of course the wheels fell off with what was going on with the pandemic.
“But I think we were ready to go again. Having that ambition, where we are not worrying every day if we are going to be able to pay the bills this month is great. He encourages that kind of thinking.”
Budge is grateful to the support of the board and executive team at Hearts having been heavily involved in the day-to-day running when she joined forces with the Foundation of Hearts to save the club. She took a step back when Andrew McKinlay arrived as chief executive in August 2020 and admits she is enjoying being able to devote more time to other interests.
She added: “I am delighted it’s no longer 24/7 because believe me it was for a long time. I could have never just stopped and walked away and thought, ‘Thank goodness that’s over’.
“But that would never have worked. It’s not a bad halfway house because I am still involved with the board and have taken on a couple of projects, the hotel for example. I am leading on that project and I am involved with the 150th anniversary working party.
“The not-so-good is I don’t know everything that’s going on any more and that sometimes annoys me. Andrew and I are very different people with different styles but he knew what he was getting into.
“I knew him slightly and that I would have to get out of the way if he was going to have a chance to do what he needed to do. Yes, it has changed and on balance it has changed for the better from my lifestyle point of view and it’s the right thing moving forward.”
But Budge admits she maintains a busy life away from football. She added: “I have a bit of a track record of buying properties and knocking them all to bits and refurbishing them.
“Just before I bought the club, I had bought my house and totally gutted it – it took three-and-a-half years. This was my project to keep me busy. I am now doing the same thing with a flat I’ve got at Murrayfield.
“I am still a non-exec director in another company as well and that takes up a bit of time.”
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