Hearts owner Ann Budge has urged head coach Robbie Neilson to stay at Tynecastle following the club's promotion to the Scottish Premiership.

Neilson led the Edinburgh club to the Scottish Championship title with seven games to spare, losing just once in the process.

"He will be a target now," Budge told BBC Sport.

"I'm hopeful, that's all I can say. Robbie is an intelligent young man and I hope he realises that staying with us a bit longer is exactly what he needs to really get his career moving.

"Everyone has seen that Robbie is a first class-coach. His manner, his intelligence, the way he treats the players - all of that has been proven beyond any shadow of a doubt. All of those qualities have helped him achieve what he has this season."

Ann Budge took over Hearts last year, and plans to hand control to fans' group Foundation of Hearts within five years.