Bloom eyes 'at least second' this term with Hearts

Tony Bloom has put his hand in his pocket to invest in Hearts
- Published
Heart of Midlothian have a "very good chance of at least being second" in the Scottish Premiership, according to new investor Tony Bloom.
The Brighton owner will attend his first game at Tynecastle since taking a 29% stake in the club as they host Aberdeen on Monday.
Hearts have use of Bloom's Jamestown Analytics company to assist with recruitment and have signed a host of new faces under head coach Derek McInnes.
"I think Hearts will have an excellent season," said the 55-year-old. "I truly believe in the squad 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.
"We've got a very good chance of at least being second this season."
- Published3 August
- Published2 August
Celtic finished 17 points clear of Rangers last term to clinch their 13th title in 14 years, while no club outside the Old Firm has finished top of the table in 40 years.
"I understand there will be a lot of Celtic and Rangers fans, maybe Aberdeen and Hibs fans, who will be laughing and saying 'I've heard it all before' and that's fine, I'm just saying it as I see it.
"I'm not saying we're going to win trophies this season, that season, next season but I genuinely believe that we will be a significant factor in Scottish football right here, right now and for the long term."
Hearts had Steven Naismith and Neil Critchley as managers last season, along with two interim stints for Liam Fox as they finished in seventh place.
Bloom spoke at a supporters' rally on Sunday and said he expects the club to be winning the Premiership and playing Champions League within the next 10 years, stressing that "challenging the establishment" is "really important overall for Scottish football".
Expanding on that theme, he added: "It's not good for two teams to dominate one league and in the last 15 years apart from one season it's pretty much Celtic.
"There's certainly enjoyment there but we've got to walk the walk, we've got to actually do what I'm saying and I'm confident we're going to be challenging. What I can't say is when we're going to have the success and get the trophies."
Bloom also has interests in Union St Gilloise, who won the Belgian title for the first time in 90 years last season, and Melbourne Victory.
He expects a successful player-trading model at Tynecastle to fuel the club's ambitions.
"I'd be very disappointed if there wasn't a lot of demand over time for Hearts' players," he said. "That's part of what the ecosystem is. You do need to sell and you've got to sell at the right time.
"And then you bring other players through. And you bring younger players in. And that's just the way it is.
"Hearts just need to do that better than other clubs. And I'm confident that we can do that.
"I've seen what we've done at Brighton, I've seen what we've done at Union Saint-Gilloise, hence the confidence in where I think Hearts can go."
- Published18 June 2023