Hearts will have to play at the Murrayfield national rugby stadium while work on their Tynecastle home is completed.

Local firm Hardies was appointed as Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor, Principal Contractor and Clerk of Works on the scheme in January.

The Construction Management deal includes seats for 7,500 fans, new media facilities, changing rooms, boardrooms, offices, function rooms, rooftop restaurant and spectator concourse facilities.

Hearts chief executive Ann Budge said: “Unfortunately there are some things we cannot control and as such, despite the mammoth effort that has gone into the construction project up until now, we are not going to make our targeted “open for business” date of 9th September 2017.

“The wettest June/July in years, coupled with the late delivery of seating from the Far East, due to shipping issues, means we will have to invoke our contingency plan and play our first few home fixtures at BT Murrayfield.

“The bulk of the structure is now in place and the roof is scheduled to be fitted by the end of next week.

“The curtain walling is already looking fantastic and is currently on target to be completed by the middle of August.

“The internal walls are being constructed and the fit-out has started and is running ahead of schedule in many areas, although there is a large amount of work involved here. Pitch-side too, the demolition work and ground works were completed on schedule and our steel work is well underway.

“In short, the construction teams have been working tirelessly to deliver our superb new stand.”