Ann Budge to step down as Hearts statement released
She has continued to act as chair and played a vital role in building the club back up.
This has included the building of a new main stand as well as the Tynecastle Park Hotel.
The Tynecastle side has also been back on the European scene after being on the brink of going out of business following the Vladimir Romanov days.
After 11 years of involvement, Budge has now announced she will be stepping aside in December. Hearts have already started the search for a new chair.
She told the club's website: 'This is something I have thought long and hard about. Having discussed this with the Board, I feel now is the right time to confirm that I intend to step down later this year.
Read more: Lee Erwin completes surprise move to Jordan after stint in North Macedonia
Celtic 'reach agreement' for J-League defender as announcement timeline revealed
'When I first got involved with the Foundation of Hearts in 2013, I could not have envisaged the journey it would take me on. Initially, the aim was to stabilize the Club before even thinking of growth. Now, 12-years later, as I look at where the club stands, I can allow myself to feel a sense of pride at what we have achieved.
'With Tony Bloom's investment now complete, and the supporters ensconced as custodians of the club, I believe I have done what I set out to achieve.
'The appropriate time for reminiscing and saying goodbye will come after the AGM in December but until then, my full focus will remain on what it has always been, and that is doing my very best for Hearts and our fans.'
Chief Executive Andrew McKinlay said: 'It cannot be overstated just how much Ann has done for Heart of Midlothian and on behalf of everyone at the club, I extend both my thanks and my gratitude.
'As we get closer to December's AGM we will update our supporters on our succession plans, but for now we will continue to enjoy and benefit from working with Ann until the end of her tenure as the club's Chair.'
Foundation of Hearts Chairman Gerry Mallon added: 'Ann will leave a remarkable legacy when she departs the club and we are extremely fortunate to have had 12 years of her knowledge and experience at the helm of Hearts.
'In particular, her participation during the birth of the Foundation of Hearts can never be downplayed, neither can the instrumental role she played in saving the club from the abyss and taking it back up to the top end of Scottish football.
'For that, I will be forever grateful to Ann, as I'm sure Hearts fans everywhere will be too.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
6 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Sarina Wiegman wants her England players to keep their cool in tournament opener
Temperatures soared to 34 degrees on Wednesday in Zurich, where defending champions England are preparing to face France in their tournament opener on Saturday, when the mercury is still expected to hit about 27 degrees at the 8pm UK kick-off time. And while England have pulled out all the stops to ensure their players are navigating the blazing conditions, Wiegman insists she will not 'think of managing the heat' when it comes to her substitutions. She said: 'Of course we have protocols in place, strategies, which players who have been around longer are familiar with that because they've played in circumstances like this – for other players, they get to for the first time. 'We could already practice it in the first week of our training camp because in England it was really hot too, so we have these cold vests, we have [an] ice box, ice drinks they can drink before training session they could also cool down a bit, get your temperature a little bit lower with slushies. 'We have ice cold towels at the rest moment in the training sessions, they get the towels if they want to. So we make sure we are hydrated. Take another rest, don't go in and out all the time, for recovery, and do those things to keep your body temperature low.' Wiegman added: 'It's really nice to have the support from the federation too, if you see now the training pitch, all the things we need to do, the gym, the strategies we have to cool down, we have ice, we have cryo, all the things that help getting prepared for the tournament so it's not just one thing.' New surroundings, same focus ⏳ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 2, 2025 The Lionesses are looking to secure their second major trophy after lifting their first on home soil three summers ago. Come Saturday, Wiegman – who will be gunning for a third straight European trophy, having also lifted it as Netherlands boss in 2017 – says her focus will be far away from the weather. She added: 'What we do now is get prepared for Saturday, for France and we're going to do everything to win that game, when we sub we do it because it's necessary to change the game or to sub someone who gave everything that needs to go out. 'I will not think of managing the heat at that point – after that game, we recover and then we come together as a team with the medical, technical, how does everyone come out of this game and then we move forward to the next game against the Netherlands.'
Scottish Sun
14 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Michael Lowe dead aged 57: Tributes pour in as unbeaten former world champion boxer-turned-rally driver passes away
Legend passed Michael Lowe dead aged 57: Tributes pour in as unbeaten former world champion boxer-turned-rally driver passes away Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TRIBUTES have poured in following the tragic news that Michael Lowe has died at the age of 57. Lowe, also known as Mihai Leu, was a Romanian boxing world champion who later forged a career as a rally driver. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mihau Leu has died at the age of 57 3 He was an unbeaten boxing world champion before injury forced him to abandon boxing 3 He later became a rally car driver Credit: Alamy He was unbeaten across 28 professional fights between 1991 and 1997. And Lowe's prowess saw him achieve world champion status. In February 1997, he defeated Santiago Samaniego to become the WBO welterweight world champion. He then successfully defended his crown in September of that year, defeating Ireland's Michael Carruth. However, he called it quits on his career and retired as one of only three undefeated European world champions at the time, after Jack McAuliffe and Terry Marsh. Injury forced him to abandon boxing altogether. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
The National
15 minutes ago
- The National
New Rangers signing Joe Rothwell details Scotland motivation
The 30-year-old today signed a three-year contract with the Ibrox side after his undisclosed move from Bournemouth was completed. He worked under head coach Russell Martin during a previous loan spell with Southampton in the English Championship, so he knows the new gaffer well. Rothwell spent last season at Championship winners Leeds, playing a key role in helping the Yorkshire side gain promotion back to the Premier League. The Manchester United academy graduate is hopeful that by replicating that sort of form, he could be in contention to make his international debut. "I'm eligible from my mum's side, her mum is Scottish,' he explained when speaking to Rangers TV. 'It is something I've always been keen to do and obviously that wasn't the reason why I came here, but hopefully, if it plays a part and gets me into the international setup, then I'll be delighted with that." Read more: Rothwell will get his first taste of Ibrox this weekend when Club Brugge travel to Glasgow for the club's first pre-season game of the season. The 30-year-old has sampled the stadium once before in a friendly outing during his time at Blackburn Rovers but knows he'll experience far louder days should the season pan out as he hopes. He added: "I played in a pre-season friendly there quite a few years ago now, I want to say it was maybe during Covid times or just as we were coming out. But I can't wait to get to the stadium and see what it's like when it's packed out with 50,000 people. "Not having to wait weeks for a game is always the best way. Hopefully, I can get involved in training as soon as possible and then be involved in that game on Sunday."
