John McGlynn is confident Hearts can challenge at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League despite a tumultuous season at Tynecastle.
More than £800,000 has been raised by the share issue scheme launched in October and although that is short of the £1.79 million target and a £1m shortfall could result, immediate fears have been allayed.
McGlynn is optimistic of on-field success.
Eighth-placed Hearts responded from the loss at Hibernian, which saw them fall at the first hurdle in defence of the William Hill Scottish Cup, with a 2-0 defeat of Aberdeen and McGlynn now hopes for another victory at St Johnstone on Saturday.
He said: “We’re still not that far away from teams that have been going on 10-game unbeaten runs and all the rest of it. We’ve picked up enough points to be within two or three victories of these teams and I believe we can do that.”
