Hearts investor Tony Bloom reveals to fans how one of the club's darkest days hurt HIM in the pocket
NO KIDD-ING Hearts investor Tony Bloom reveals to fans how one of the club's darkest days hurt HIM in the pocket
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NEW Hearts investor Tony Bloom has told supporters how one of the club's darkest days hurt him too – in the pocket.
The Brighton chairman was speaking at a fans event after buying a 29 percent share in the Tynecastle club in June.
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Tony Bloom was speaking at a Foundation of Hearts event at Tynecastle
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And he voluntarily brought up one of the darkest days in the club's history
Bloom – known as The Lizard – reiterated his desire to compete with Celtic and Rangers for titles and trophies and smash the current Old Firm dominance of Scottish football.
But he also brought up one of the worst days in Hearts' history when they famously BLEW the chance to clinch the title in 1986 on the last day of the season.
The Jambos needed only a draw away to Dundee to seal their first top division triumph since 1960.
But two late goals from Albert Kidd handed the title instead to Celtic who had smashed St Mirren 5-0 in Paisley to top the table on goal difference.
It remains one of the darkest days in Hearts' history.
And Bloom revealed it was a painful afternoon for him too – as he had BET on the Jambos to win the league at a whopping 8/1.
He told supporters at the Foundation of Hearts event: 'Growing up in the 70s and 80s, Scottish football was talked about a lot more in the newspapers (in England) than it is now.
'And so I've always followed Scottish football in different ways.
'When I was growing up it wasn't always an Old Firm show.
'I'm sure a few of you here will remember 1986.
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'I'm sorry to have mentioned it – maybe that wasn't such a good idea!
'I can't remember his name but I remember someone scoring two very late goals.
'But I remember that season as I had backed Hearts to win the league at around 8/1.
'And going into the last game it was looking very pretty!
'All we needed to do was get a win against Dundee….and it didn't quite happen.
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Albert Kidd's double denied Hearts the title in 1986
Credit: Scottish News and Sport
'But I've always followed Scottish football and, looking from afar, I don't like the fact that over the last 35 years it's been completely dominated by the Old Firm.
"And over the last 15 years apart from one season when Rangers won the league it has been dominated by one club.
'It's not good at all – and I believe I can help make a difference.
'I don't want it to be dominated by just two teams.
'I looked and thought about clubs in Scotland.
'And after I met Ann Budge and Hearts I knew this was the club I wanted to invest in."
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Bloom believes Hearts can challenge the Old Firm's dominance
Credit: PA
Bloom reckons Celtic's dominance of the Scottish football landscape isn't healthy.
Asked what disrupting the game would mean in his eyes, he replied: "It means that, at the start of each season, the fans and media are not talking about it being a two-runner race.
"That will not be the case from now on.
"Every game Heart of Midlothian play in, we will play to win.
"Every tournament Hearts are in, we are aiming to win it.
"I accept the fact that, when we get into the Champions League, that may be a little bit difficult.
'But we have to have belief - big belief in who we are, what we are, our players, our head coach, and everyone at the football club.
"I think with the squad of players that sporting director Graeme Jones has helped put together under Derek McInnes, I think we will continue to get stronger year on year.'
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