ROBBIE Neilson has warned the troublemaking element in the Hearts support that their antics are putting his transfer plans at risk.

Club chairman Ann Budge this week revealed the Jambos will have to fork out up to £50,000 calling in extra police to Tynecastle following a series of recent incidents.

Budge was angered by reports of fighting in the streets of Gorgie before and after this month’s 6-0 romp against Motherwell.

And verbal abuse hurled at Dundee United boss Mixu Paatelainen at a match just before New Year is now being investigated by the Scottish Professional Football League.

Now head coach Neilson — who refused to discuss his move for Tannadice teenager John Souttar — claims the cash the club are having to spend to beef up security is money he will have to do without as he looks to add to his squad before Monday’s transfer deadline.

“It affects the club as a whole,” said Neilson. “It affects the product on the park, especially if we are having to spend money that we have not the budget for. We are having to do that now and that is the disappointing thing.

“We have self-policed with our own stewards for quite a while now so having to go back to bringing the police in costs the club a lot more money.

“Hopefully the fans will now realise this and eradicate these problems.”

Hearts have already had one offer in the region of £100,000 turned down for 19-year-old Souttar, who is out of contract this summer, but are weighing up tabling an increased bid before Monday’s transfer window closes.

“I am not going to comment on other team’s players,” said

Neilson. “It is important we do any business privately and we take it from there.

“A lot of players have been put to us, a lot of good players, and there are players at other teams that we are looking to speak to as well.

“We are still looking to get a striker in but if there is any player that I think will add value, then we will look to do something.

“I expect things to happen in the next two or three days but if it does not happen I will be more than happy with what I have got.

“I have got a good squad. If there is someone out there that can give us a lift then we have the finances there to do it.

“We can go through the rest of the season with what we have got but if there are players out there — it might be one, two or three — if it is something we can do within our budget then it is something we can look at.”

Neilson was also reluctant to discuss whether his team had been training with 10 men this week, with referee Willie Collum in charge of Hearts’ visit to Inverness tomorrow.

Collum sent off Callum Paterson during Hearts’ 3-2 defeat at Hamilton in August, a decision that was reduced to a yellow card on appeal.

And Neilson admitted after that game that they had specifically trained with 10 men due to the official’s penchant for brandishing red cards.

Neilson, who was hit with a suspended two-game ban by the Scottish FA over those remarks, said: “I am not going to comment on that. I will tell you after the game.”