Hearts fans have been warned that if the club doesn't sell out its allocation for Hampden next weekend, then getting a 50-50 split for cup semi-finals and finals may be a thing of the past moving forward.

Chief executive Andrew McKinlay has pleaded with supporters to get buying the remaining tickets for the club's Scottish Cup semi-final with Rangers on Sunday, April 21.

As things stand, they are 4,000 tickets that haven't yet been sold by the Premeirship's third-place side.

It was revealed earlier this week that the Tynecastle club will pick up the tab for any unsold tickets for the showpiece event, as per their agreement with the Scottish FA when fighting for an even split of Hampden.

McKinlay wants to see a fully sold-out Hearts section of the stadium for the encounter to give the backing that Steven Naismith's players deserve.

However, he also admits that failure to sell out the ground could result in tougher circumstances in future years for the Jambos when it comes to playing at the national stadium.

"We've got about 4000 left to sell and as has been well documented, we fought hard to get half the ground," he told Hearts TV. "Why did we do that? One, because we think it's important and fair. But also, we think it will be massive for the team to come out, look around and see half that ground full of maroon.

READ MORE: Hearts to be billed for unsold Rangers semi-final tickets

"Therefore, it's really important for us to fill that. It's also important for those that have already put their hands in their pockets to thank them for doing that. There are over 16,000 of them who have already done that and that's not to be sniffed at.

"Yes, there will be a cost to us if we don't do that. That has been talked about. But more importantly for me is that if we don't do it, then in the future we may struggle to get half the stadium. I think it's vitally important that we do that so we can get half the stadium.

"I know people are struggling financially at the moment and I know that there's a lot of calls on money. So I would just ask if people are able to, to come or bring people with them so we can absolutely sell out our end a week on Sunday."