Hearts fans face competition in their bid to buy the club after administrators confirmed they had received a total of three offers.

The Foundation of Hearts, an alliance of supporters groups, was the first to submit its bid 24 hours before the deadline and another two groups followed them yesterday.

Joint administrator Bryan Jackson said: “We can confirm that we have received three bids for Heart of Midlothian FC.

“To preserve confidentiality, unless disclosed by the bidder themselves we will not be naming the parties.”

A potential rival to the Hearts fans emerged earlier this week in the shape of a group headed by Borders businessman Bob Jamieson and backed by American investment firm Club 9 Sports.

Last year Club 9 advised Bill Miller, who withdrew as preferred bidder for Rangers, on his offer for the Glasgow club when they were in administration. Former Livingston owner Angelo Massone is also reported to have made another offer for the club.

Hearts rebuffed a bid from the Italian in November last year, stating they felt he “may not be the right person to take the club forward”.

The Italian led Livi into administration and ultimately demotion to the Third Division in a disastrous year-long spell in 2008-09.

The Foundation of Hearts bid is backed by more than 5,500 supporters, who have set up direct debits to fund their offer.

Jackson urged fans to be patient as events in Lithuania are complicating the process.

Hearts owe about £25million to their two major shareholders, Ukio Bankas and UBIG, both of which are insolvent, but the latter has not had an administrator appointed.