Tony Bloom backs Hearts to break Old Firm hold, targets Premiership by 2035
October 13, 2026 13:20
WHAT HAPPENED
Bloom, the chairman of Brighton, completed the purchase of a 29% stake in Hearts in June 2025 and pledged then to "disrupt the pattern of domination which has been in place for far too long." He told Sky Sports he remains confident the club is on track for top honours.
KEY CONTEXT
Hearts came close to ending the long-standing dominance of Celtic and Rangers last season, leading the league for 250 days before a final-day defeat at Celtic Park. They finished two points behind champions Celtic in May.
Since Bloom's investment the club has undergone a significant overhaul. Head coach Derek McInnes left for Rangers, and captain Lawrence Shankland and midfielder Cammy Devlin also departed. Wouter Vrancken is now in charge. Hearts remain unbeaten at home in the league for over a year and currently sit third behind the Old Firm duo.
Bloom described last season’s ending as "exceptionally disappointing for the club and for me as well," but said the club has recovered after a difficult change of head coach just before pre-season. "We've brought in a lot of new players, and there's a lot to play for in the season for Hearts," he added.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Hearts are preparing to visit Celtic on Sunday, a fixture Bloom referenced while expressing optimism about the season ahead.