Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom: ‘We can split the Old Firm this season'
Bloom, the professional poker player and Brighton & Hove Albion owner and chairman, accepted his bold comments might invite ridicule from Celtic and Rangers fans and that the Parkhead club's manager, Brendan Rodgers, would not lose any sleep over them in the short term.
The giant Glasgow clubs have won every league title in Scotland since 1985, with Celtic taking 13 of the last 14. Hearts have not been champions since 1960 and it would be astonishing if they could end decades of Old Firm domination given their turnover and wage bill is around one-quarter to one-fifth of Celtic and Rangers'. Last season they finished seventh in the league, 23 points behind Rangers and 40 behind Celtic. But significant improvement is expected under highly respected data specialists Jamestown Analytics, who Bloom has worked with for years, and new head coach Derek McInnes. Last November Jamestown signed a partnership deal to work with Hearts.
'I think that Hearts this season will have an excellent season,' said Bloom. 'I truly believe in the squad of players that has been assembled and I've got every faith in Derek's ability to get the best out of them and to improve them. I think we've got a very good chance of at least being second this season. I want to make sure that we are in the talk to win the title at the start of each season. Hopefully we won't just talk the talk but we will walk the walk.'
This summer Bloom invested £9.86 million for a 29 per cent stake of non-voting shares in the fan-owned Edinburgh club. He will put no more money in but is convinced that first class recruitment, coaching, management, facilities and support structures can grow them into consistent title challengers, as happened when he bought into traditional Belgian also-rans Union Saint-Gilloise. In May that club, also using Jamestown's data, became national champions for the first time in 90 years.
On Sunday evening Bloom had several hundred fans lapping up his every word as he addressed them in a suite at Tynecastle. He explained that he began to consider investing in a Scottish club two years ago because the competitive landscape was broadly comparable to Belgium's. Other clubs were in the frame and he spoke to some before being impressed and won over by outgoing Hearts chairwoman Ann Budge. He told the fans that he would attend a Hearts game for the first time against Aberdeen on Monday night.
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'I think because of not being in the bubble [of Scottish football] I think it's easier for me. I've seen what we've done at Brighton, I've seen what we've done at Union Saint-Gilloise, so hence the confidence in where I think Hearts can go. I think when I took over in Belgium I had a one-off press conference and I was probably more guarded. Seven years ago things were a lot less proven, so I wasn't as bullish. Here I've just got a lot more confidence in what Hearts can do.
'I understand there will be a lot of Celtic [or] Rangers fans who will be laughing and saying 'well I've heard it all before'. I'm just saying it as I see it. I'm not saying it's going to be a straight line success, I'm not saying we're going to win trophies in this season or that season, but I genuinely believe that we will be a significant factor in Scottish football right here, right now and for the long term. Looking from afar, looking at the success we've had with Union Saint-Gilloise, I just thought there was an opportunity here to shake things up in Scotland.
'I do understand how difficult it is. I mean Celtic and Rangers' budgets are perhaps six or seven times' Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen's. That is a big obstacle to overcome. I don't think Brendan's going to be too concerned about what I'm saying. I'm not sure he's going to be too concerned about Hearts right now. But hopefully, over the course of the season [that changes]. It'd be great for Scottish football if he is worried about Hearts. I won't talk about what the odds are. I would just like to say that if we have not won the league title in the next 10 years I will be very disappointed.'
Bloom consulted Uefa and was told he could not buy more Hearts shares because simultaneously owning 30 per cent or more of two clubs would mean they could not both play in the same European competition in the same season. As things stand he has had it confirmed that Hearts and Brighton would not be affected were they to be in the same tournament. 'There won't be any more investment from me, certainly while the Uefa rules stay as they are.'
Every Scottish club should wish its rivals well in the European tournaments in order to boost the country's co-efficient, he said. This season even Celtic face a play-off to reach the Champions League proper. 'As and when Hearts win the league we want to go straight into the Champions League, we do not want to have two games.'
He 'absolutely' believed Hearts would be in Uefa's elite tournament during his time with the club. 'And I hope that as and when Hearts do win the league, the coefficient is such that we go straight into the Champions League group stages. Just like Union Saint-Gilloise, by winning the league, have gone straight into this season's group stages of the Champions League.'
Hearts v AberdeenScottish Premiership, 8pmTynecastle ParkTV Sky Sports
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