THE SPL DOESN’T often send pulses racing for supporters outside of the Old Firm, but a statement released by Hearts on Friday evening has certainly raised eyebrows.

Attributed to the club’s Board of Directors, it launches a blistering attack on the “crooks, criminals and thieves” that have apparently been trying to undermine the club for the past seven years.

The Edinburgh outfit are owned by Lithuanian businessman Vladimir Romanov, who has made controversial remarks in the past, and this latest statement maintains that at least four players have been caught up in legal wrangles because of the “targeted actions of a mafia that wants to manipulate the club and the results”.

The statement adds:

“Every year Hearts fights to be in the top three, but even last season in the last 12 games of the season it was like someone replaced the team with a different one. Whose fault is that? Players? Manager? Or it is mafia.”

In recent days Hearts announced its decision to allow Craig Thomson resume his career with the club after the defender pleaded guilty to and was fined over charges of inappropriate behaviour towards two underage girls. They are also facing a bill of £100,000 as a result of poor on-field behaviour by players last season.

According to the BBC website, the Scottish Football Association are now likely to look into this latest outburst.