Hearts boss Gary Locke insists he can work with prospective owner Ann Budge.

The Edinburgh businesswoman will complete the process to formally take the club out of administration next month after striking a £2.5million deal to buy the shares of Ukio Bankas on Wednesday.

Her focus will then turn to making the relegation-bound Tynecastle side one of Scotland's biggest clubs again.

But there has been speculation the 66-year-old millionaire IT specialist would replace Locke with former Hearts boss Craig Levein when the current manager's deal expires this summer.

Locke - who has yet to meet with Budge - saw his rookie season in charge beset by a 15-point deduction and transfer embargo.

But he is adamant he will have no problem forming an effective partnership with the future chairwoman.

He said: "Of course I can work with Ann. I am one of these guys who can work with anyone. I haven't spoken with Ann yet. I met her a while back but she has been very busy working behind the scenes.

"She will have her plans but it will be great when she comes in. We have a chairwoman who has the best interests of the club at heart.

"I'm no different from any other Hearts fan -that's all everybody wants.

"I have tried to do the best job I possibly can under really difficult circumstances. But like any club that gets new owners, they will have their own ideas.

"So we will just wait and see what happens. I keep saying it is not about me. It's about whether the football club is still here."