When Ann Budge first stepped through the doors of Hearts back in early summer 2014 she had plans to remain at the club for no more than three years.
But here we are now, over ten years at Hearts, and it is only now she has decided to step away from the club she saved from oblivion.
Back in 2013 Hearts had been plunged into administration after Vladimir Romanov left the club millions in debt, and with the Lithiuanian lawyers looking to extract every single penny they could the outlook was bleak.
Working alongside the Foundation of Hearts she put up £2.5million of her own hard cash to lead the club to safety with the promise the fans would one day own the club.
She duly delivered on her promise four years ago with Hearts now the largest fan-owned club in the UK.
In these years she has also delivered a new main stand which now also hosts a five star hotel and became the first club in Scotland to introduce a living wage for all staff.
She has introduced philanthropists like James Anderson, who has ploughed millions into the club over the years, and brought in charity sponsors with Save the Children and MND Scotland featuring on the front of shirts.
And recently she was the major player in ensuring the deal for Tony Bloom to be welcomed into the Hearts family. Along with nearly £10m and the use of Jamestown Analytics, it has transformed the club’s recruitment strategy and will continue to do so in the coming seasons.
It hasn’t always though been plain sailing though for Budge. In 2020 the club were relegated in what was a curtailed season due to Covid and a battle through the courts to address this issue was ultimately lost.
There have also been no fewer than 11 managers in Ann’s time in charge with supporters questioning many of the appointments made.
Budge will formally step down from her role as chairperson at Thursday’s annual general meeting with local businessman Callum Paterson taking over the role.
Budge has been handed the role of honorary president of the club and, as she still has her own significant shareholding in the club, she could at some point make a return to the board should she see fit to do so.
But whatever happens in the future Budge will be looked upon as a hero by the vast majority of Hearts fans as her time in charge, for the moment anyway, comes to an end.
