Former Hearts manager Craig Levein believes the way some fans treat owner Ann Budge is "disgraceful" after her substantial investments.
Levein left the Gorgie club at the start of this month following his sacking as as manager and director of football last October.
Budge took the decision to remove her closest ally in football after almost six years of working together as fans' frustrations began to boil over, following a year of poor results with the club sitting second from bottom.
Yet Levein still supports his former boss, and finds it "galling" when fans turn on her despite the fact she stepped in to rescue the club from oblivion back in 2014.
And he believes that further criticism over her decision to go to court alongside Partick Thistle is unwarranted.
“I find it galling, actually,” he told the Times. “Ann works incredibly hard at Tynecastle, having not taken a penny out of the club in six years. In fact, she has always found ways to put money into Hearts in loads of different ways. She is always buying stuff at Hearts auctions: she almost has more stuff on Hearts than is in the club museum. She will find any way she can to try to move the club forward.
“Some people have forgotten what Ann has achieved at Hearts. She has built a £20 million stadium, put in a new pitch, created a museum and a memorial garden, she started the performance school and has invested heavily in the club’s academy. All of these things are for the betterment of the club.
“So it really irritates me when some idiot doesn’t appreciate what she is doing and starts mouthing off at her. I find that aspect disgraceful.
“Now she is getting further stick for going to court over the relegation issue. I know for a fact Ann doesn’t want to go to court at all; she just wants Hearts to be treated fairly.”
