
'No club has tried to challenge Old Firm in this way'
We asked for your views after Tony Bloom completed his £10m investment in Hearts and vowed to "disrupt the pattern of domination" in Scottish football.Here's what some of you said:Norrie: This man is a greatly serious investor who will push us to achieve great things over the coming seasons. I can't wait for the season to get going and finally see Hearts become glorious once again.Andy: I'm sure there is lots to look forward to, from not only his investment, but the positivity, enthusiasm and ambition he brings with it. It might not happen overnight, but the journey has at least started.Steven: Absolutely massive for Hearts. This will only be the start, Bloom is a serious football investor and someone who will really take the club forward. All the blocks are now in place to maximise the club's potential. Football minds on the board, proper manager in place, finance to bring in better quality players. Great news for Hearts.Johnnie: Could this work? Let's see. No other club in Scotland has attempted to challenge the Old Firm's dominance in this way before. While I don't like the thought of becoming Brighton's 'wee team', we could benefit from some young Premier League talent. This guy seems to know what he's doing, the Foundation of Hearts is still in charge. What's to lose? Let's enjoy the ride. At least it'll be interesting.Alexander: I voted against his investment, but now he's here we need to use all his expertise and resources. I am keen it's Derek McInnes and not Bloom or Andrew McKinlay that has the last word on transfer targets.Richard: The money itself isn't a game-changer, as that would take higher sums fed in consistently. What we can gain will depend on what doors Bloom will open for us and what resources he will be minded to send our way. If he puts little energy into it we'll just keep doing what we've been doing and keep getting what we've been getting. If he's driven to improve our thinking and actions as a club then it's really him who could say what that direction is. But change involves letting some things go too, we might have to be prepared for that.Callum: Potentially a game-changer for us and Scottish football. I'm excited but will temper my expectations over a five-year period before we are realistically and consistently disrupting the Old Firm.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Metro
34 minutes ago
- Metro
Wayne Rooney 'devastated' by Manchester United transfer: 'He didn't want to go'
Wayne Rooney admits he was left 'devastated' when Carlos Tevez made a controversial move from Manchester United to Manchester City. Argentinian striker Tevez helped Sir Alex Ferguson's United win two Premier League titles and the Champions League during a brief spell at Old Trafford. Tevez scored five goals during Manchester United's run to the 2008 Champions League final and then scored from the spot in the penalty shootout win over Chelsea. The former Boca Juniors and Corinthians star found himself out of the United team towards the back-end of the 2008-09 season and reportedly had a strained relationship with Fergie. Despite this, United were ready to hand Tevez a five-year contract that summer and make him one of the club's top earners, only to be told that he would be looking to leave. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Tevez joined United's local rivals Man City ahead of the 2009-10 campaign and spent four productive years at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 73 goals in 148 appearances. He was an integral member of the squad that won their first Premier League title in 2012 and began to make City – not United – the dominant force in England. Since sealing their first league title since 1968, Manchester City have gone on to win a further seven Premier League titles and their maiden Champions League. Manchester United legend Rooney was 'devastated' when Tevez left Old Trafford and believes he was keen to stay before agreeing terms with the club's city rivals. 'I was gutted to be honest,' Rooney told BBC Sport. 'I'm pretty sure Carlos wanted to stay at Manchester United. 'Man City at the time were trying to build and become competitive and I knew that he'd be a massive part of that because obviously the ability he has. 'I think we've seen when he went there, he had some great times there as well. I was devastated, I would've really like him to stay longer and continue to play with him.' Following the signing of Tevez, Man City unveiled a poster in the city of Tevez celebrating with the words 'welcome to Manchester' underneath. The stunt angered Alex Ferguson, who said: 'It's City isn't it? They are a small club with a small mentality. 'All they can talk about is Manchester United; they can't get away from it. That arrogance will be rewarded. It is a go at us, that's the one thing it is. 'They think taking Carlos Tevez away from Manchester United is a triumph. It is poor stuff.' More Trending Responding to Fergie's comments, Man City boss Mark Hughes said: 'The poster campaign in Manchester is a bit of fun between the fans. 'It is in a similar vein as the banner at Old Trafford which counts the time span since City's last trophy win. We're glad it's got so many people talking. 'Sir Alex Ferguson is a man I hold the utmost respect for and he is fully entitled to his opinion. 'I am very happy with the transfer business Manchester City have conducted this summer, and that the players we have recruited are as excited as I am about the season ahead.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Joao Pedro chooses next club after Chelsea and Newcastle transfer offers MORE: Mikel Arteta accused of making Arsenal transfer mistake with £45m star MORE: Valencia captain sends message to Cristhian Mosquera as club respond to Arsenal transfer bid

The National
35 minutes ago
- The National
SNP policy should 'embrace the defence industry', say ex-MPs
The Scottish Government's current stance is not to use public money to fund the manufacturing of munitions. The Times reports that the First Minister has faced intensive lobbying, including from Holyrood backbenchers in the party, to relax the ban on such projects. And now, former Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called for investment in defence to 'kick-start the delivery of an industrial future for Scotland'. READ MORE: Inside the SNP's political strategy ahead of 2026 Scottish election Meanwhile, former SNP Westminster defence spokesperson Stewart McDonald branded the ban as a 'stupid policy'. It emerged in May that a specialist welding skills centre in Glasgow, planned by Rolls Royce, could be a risk after it was deemed to not be eligible for £2.5 million of Scottish Enterprise funding. UK Defence Secretary John Healy described the decision as 'student union politics', prompting a furious response from Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon. Writing in the Times, Blackford (below) said: 'Investment in defence, though, can be a lever and transformative in itself in generating economic growth. (Image: PA) 'With the increase in defence spending requiring £60 billion-plus, it is beyond doubt that we need to make sure that Scotland gets its fair share, and I know the Scottish Government will be standing up for Scotland's interest in making it happen.' He pointed to Swinney stating that he had no objections if a company came to Scotland to set up a munitions factory, adding: 'There is a need to replenish munitions in support of the defence of Ukraine. In doing this, though, there are red lines and that means munitions supplied in the needs of strategic defence interests and never in situations such as Gaza where civilians are targeted.' 'ADS, the umbrella body for the industry, points out that the sector today employs 33,500 workers and delivers a value added of £3.2 billion, with an output per worker of £95,000,' he added. READ MORE: Home Office staff concerned over 'absurb ban on Palestine Action' 'These figures make it self-evident that there is an economic prize in attracting defence investment into Scotland.' Elsewhere, McDonald told Scotland on Sunday that the defence industry has a 'very awkward' relationship wih the Scottish Government. He branded the ban on investments relating to munitions 'a stupid policy', also criticising the restrictions in place for the Scottish National Investment Bank. 'Defence is the one industry that has enormous growth happening in it right now and that's not likely to end [any] time soon,' McDonald said. 'So why should our National Investment Bank not invest in it? 'It's entirely normal in every other country in Europe or the world for your national institutions to support your national interests, including your national security interests. "So why is the Scottish National Investment Bank not doing that? I think that's mad.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We recognise the importance of the aerospace, defence and shipbuilding sectors for Scotland's economy. Together they provide high value jobs, support across the wider supply chain and make a valuable contribution to local, regional and national economies.' 'Scottish ministers have been consistently clear on the Scottish government's long-standing policy position that it does not use public money to support the manufacture of munitions,' they added.

Leader Live
38 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Timothy Fosu-Mensah believes hard work will pay off in long bid to find new club
The Ajax youth product made his breakthrough at Old Trafford, where he graduated from the academy and made 30 first-team appearances – a figure that would have been higher were it not for loans and injury. Fosu-Mensah suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a spell at Fulham in 2019, with another following in February 2021 on just his seventh league appearance for new club Bayer Leverkusen. Such issues, thankfully, seem in the past and now the 27-year-old is looking to kickstart his career after spending a season as a free agent. A post shared by Timothy Fosu-Mensah (@tfosumensah) 'Last season was the first time in my career that I've spent without a team,' Fosu-Mensah told PA. 'At this age it's quite early and I think quite strange for people. 'I know I've been working hard and hard work won't go unnoticed. That's what I believe. 'If you stay at home, you do nothing and then you think 'boom, OK, I'm going to go this club or that club', no, that's not how it works, that's not my mentality. It's definitely a fresh start and I've been working hard.' Fosu-Mensah's last competitive appearance came in April 2023 but he does not believe he will struggle to make a comeback, pointing to others forced out of the game for different reasons as well as his fitness regime. A post shared by Timothy Fosu-Mensah (@tfosumensah) In fact, he feels as strong as ever, mentally and physically, after leaving Bayer without making an appearance during their title-winning 2023-24 season. Fosu-Mensah was on the bench a handful of times and fit for all but three weeks of that campaign, with more jarring issues following last summer's release. 'There was a couple of situations with agents here and there, which was a bit of a mess,' he said. 'People were speaking on my name who I never even had contact with. 'I would say like 80 per cent of the agents who were approaching clubs and people I didn't even know, who I didn't even had contact with. I think that was a big mess.' There were some talks during the winter about moving to the Championship – 'some of them I was aware of, some of them I wasn't,' he admitted – before a beneficial five months with Ajax. Fosu-Mensah has followed that training time with their reserves and first team, including some behind-closed-doors games, with daily summer workouts as he seeks a return. The 27-year-old spoke after one such session alongside Brian Brobbey and Steven Bergwijn from his home in the Netherlands, where a framed United shirt reading 'Fosu-Mensah 51' takes pride of place. 'I'll always be a fan of United,' Fosu-Mensah said. 'Always. I came there when I was 16, I left when I was 23. I've had many nice moments, won a couple of trophies, especially in my first season. 'We all know United, we all know the history of United, we all know what United stands for. 'Even this last season the Premier League was difficult for them but they reached the Europa League final, so it's something in the DNA of the club that they always want to win trophies. A post shared by Timothy Fosu-Mensah (@tfosumensah) 'I have analysed the manager (Ruben Amorim) and I have seen a little bit how he plays and what he wants from his players. 'Jeremiah St Juste from Sporting Lisbon is a good friend of mine and he had great words for the manager, so I'm positive that United brought in a good manager.' Fosu-Mensah hopes 'good things will happen to the club and to the players' next season, including Marcus Rashford having made his Premier League debut alongside him against Arsenal in February 2016. 'I just want him to be happy,' he added. 'Everybody just wants him to be happy. 'The most important things is for him to feel good, for him to feel happy. Look, the quality is definitely there. Nobody needs to say anything about this quality, because he's a top player.'