[30][31] Three bids were received,[32][33] one from the Foundation of Hearts,[34] one from HMFC Limited backed by American firm Club 9 Sports[35] and former Livingston owner Angelo Massone through Five Stars Football Ltd.[36] On 29 July 2013, HMFC Limited's bid was rejected[37] and the remaining bidders advised that the current CVA offers would need to be increased[38] as they were “not satisfactory” to Ukio Bankas one of Hearts main creditors.
That would be for new owners rather than the administrators"[41] Hearts returned for pre-season training on 27 June,[42] before heading to England[43] to take on Romanian side Dinamo Bucharest.
[47] Hearts pre-season preparations continued with trips to face Raith Rovers[48] and Queen of the South,[49] before heading to Belfast[50] to take part in a mini tournament[51] against Crusaders[52] and a Liverpool XI.
[53] The only friendly to take place at Tynecastle Park was held as a fundraiser,[54] on an international week in November, against German side Wolfsburg.
[55] Hearts held the Bundesliga to a 0–0 draw[56] with the game marking the first team debuts of Adam King,[57] Angus Beith and Jack Hamilton.
[69] The draw was held on 7 August 2013[70] and the club were drawn away from home against Raith Rovers,[71] just over a month following their pre-season win over the Championship side.
[72] Liam Fox opened the scoring early in the second half for the home side before Jamie Hamill equalised from the penalty spot.
[84] Hearts progressed defeating Queens 4–2 in the shoot out,[85] meaning the club had won four out of their last five league cup fixtures on Penalties.
[86] The draw for the Quarter-final took place the following day[87] with Hearts being drawn against Edinburgh Derby rival Hibernian (Hibs)[88] at Easter Road.
[89] Hibs dominated the early stages of the encounter,[90] however Ryan Stevenson scored against the run of play from 25 yards out after 34 minutes to separate the two sides.
[94] For the Semi-final the club were drawn with fellow Scottish Premiership side Inverness Caledonian Thistle,[95] a repeat of the same round the previous season.
In addition, Danny Wilson was given a one-match ban[100] for using foul and abusive language during an incident in the tunnel following Hearts 2–1 victory over Aberdeen on 24 August 2013,[101] meaning he missed their league clash against Inverness Caledonian Thistle the following weekend.
[104] The club also appealed[105] the red card issued to Jamie Hamill during the following week's match against Inverness for deliberate handball,[106] after replays showed the ball had actually struck the player on his head.
[109] On 18 January 2014, Ryan Stevenson was sent off for violent conduct following an incident with Alan Mannus whilst trying to recover the ball after Hearts second goal.
[110] As a result, he incurred an automatic two-match ban,[111] which was served in the league fixture against Ross County and the rearranged match against St Mirren.
[116] Having gone over the SFA disciplinary points threshold, Jamie Hamill,[117] Scott Robinson,[117] Kevin McHattie,[118] Callum Paterson[119] and Danny Wilson served one-match bans over the course of the season.
[133] In October 2013, Player Development Manager Darren Murray[134] left the club after 14 years[135] to become under-18 coach at Coventry City.
Brad McKay, Jack Hamilton, Kevin McHattie, Jason Holt, Jamie Walker, David Smith,[148] Callum Paterson[149] and Jordan McGhee[150] were called up to represent the under-21 squad.
[162][163] Prior to the end of the previous season Hearts announced it would not be offering new deals to Danny Grainger,[164] Darren Barr,[165] Gordon Smith,[166] Denis Prychynenko[167] and Fraser Mullen,[168] as the club continued to bring down their wage bill.
[181] Having turned down a bid earlier in the season,[182] on 28 January, Administrators BDO accepted an offer from Swansea City[183] for Adam King.