Hearts halfway to ticket target

Everton manager Roberto Martinez is expected to finalise his backroom staff shortly after he begins work next week.

Pre-season training starts on Wednesday and Martinez is yet to assemble his coaching staff as the club prepares for a new era under the Spaniard's management.

Assistant manager Steve Round, coach Jimmy Lumsden and goalkeeping coach Chris Woods have all been linked with a reunion with former Toffees boss David Moyes at Manchester United.

Martinez is set to bring in his own staff with Graeme Jones, his assistant at both Wigan and Swansea, likely to arrive in the near future.

"For Roberto to bring in his team is absolutely what he wants to do and we want to support him on it," said chief executive Robert Elstone.

"We are working hard to do that and I'm hoping in the near future that Roberto will have his team.

"He is also integrating into a very strong, solid team that already exists here.

"There is a real spirit at Finch Farm and lot of experience. I know he will want to retain that Everton spirit but yes, he does want his own support team around him.

"We are working to make that happen and I'm sure we will succeed on that in the very near future."

When asked about departures, Elstone said: "Whoever ultimately moves on to new pastures goes with our best wishes and our thanks for all their contribution they have made to Everton Football club."

Bryan Jackson and Trevor Birch from administrators BDO told the Jambos support last Friday that the stricken Gorgie outfit faced a £750,000 funding gap and warned they would have to push sales of season passes up from 7,000 to over 10,000 if the club was to survive.

Since that appeal went out a week ago, fans have snapped up over 1,500 season tickets.

Birch said: "Selling in excess of 1,500 season tickets in just over a week is hugely encouraging - and all the more impressive when you remember that fans have only been able to buy tickets in person by cash or cheque at the ticket office.

"The response has been tremendous and we are grateful to everyone who has supported the club. We're not out of the woods yet but every ticket we sell buys us much-needed additional time to secure the club's future. We're all heading in the right direction and we need to keep the momentum going."

Meanwhile, former Gorgie favourite Paul Hartley has told the club's faithful they have the right man in charge in boss Gary Locke.

By calling in the administrators Hearts triggered a 15-point penalty and transfer embargo, while first-team players Ryan Stevenson, Jamie MacDonald and Jamie Hamill have all been forced to accept 50 per cent wage cuts.

But Alloa manager Hartley believes having Locke in charge is one thing fans can be positive about.

He said: "The fans have been great, as have the players by taking wage cuts.

"And it will be difficult on Gary too. All he will want to do is manage the team, to try to get a good group of players into his squad so they can have a successful season.

"But he has got a transfer embargo, a young squad and he doesn't know which players are coming or going.

"They will be starting the season minus 15 points, so it is testing for him.

"But I know Gary well and the way he has handled himself has been terrific. The fans and players are right behind him and he's a true Hearts man."

The Scottish Football Association are expected to launch their own disciplinary proceedings after the club broke strict insolvency rules but Locke says the club have been punished enough.

Among the penalties the governing body could hand out are a censure, a fine or an extended signing embargo.

Jackson claimed it could be a disaster for the club if a financial punishment was meted out and Locke echoed those sentiments.

The Gorgie boss said: "We have been punished and rightly so. I'm not going to make any excuses.

"But do we have to get punished for the same thing twice?"