Hearts have called upon their supporters to raise the £2m needed to help the club survive until the end of the season.

Long-running financial problems and a £450,000 tax demand have put the future of the Tynecastle outfit under threat.

Steve Kilgour of the Federation of Hearts Supporters' Clubs appealed to those fans who have bought tickets for the Europa League qualifiers and Scottish Cup final in recent times to return and help finance the club's recovery.

"We have to stand on our own two feet and it's imperative the supporters back the share issue," he told BBC Scotland. "Vladimir Romanov is no longer financing the club or bankrolling it. We need £2m to carry us through to the summer. Each season, there's a £2m deficit and we have to find that.

"Most of the people we represent are the hardcore support and they will get behind the club. It's the people who were phoning me up leading up to the Scottish Cup final - that's the people who need to stand up and be counted now.

"The guys who were fighting for tickets for Spurs last year and for the Liverpool game this year. They need to now fight for the survival of the club."

Hearts hope to raise £1.79m with a share offer that will give supporters a 10% stake in the club.