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Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Hearts investor Tony Bloom reveals to fans how one of the club's darkest days hurt HIM in the pocket
The Brighton owner hopes to transform the Tynecastle club and challenge the Old Firm NO KIDD-ING Hearts investor Tony Bloom reveals to fans how one of the club's darkest days hurt HIM in the pocket Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Tony Bloom was speaking at a Foundation of Hearts event at Tynecastle 4 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. Brighton owner Tony Bloom celebrates £750,000 winner as his horse Energumene wins Champion Chase at Cheltenham '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. 4 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." 4 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.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Celtic & Rangers domination is over, vows Hearts investor
Bloom made the blockbuster claim in a Foundation of Hearts event at Tynecastle on Sunday evening. He said: "I don't like the fact that the last 35 years has been completely dominated by the Old Firm and probably the last 15 years, apart from the one season when Rangers won the league, it's dominated by one club. "It's not good at all and I believe I can make a difference, I can help make a difference and I don't want it to be dominated just by two teams. Read more: "So I did look and thought about clubs in Scotland and as soon as I met Ann [Budge] and as soon as I really looked at Hearts, I knew this was the club that I liked to invest in and here I am today. "I think it's really important overall for Scottish football is for it not to be a one or two club show and it's not going to be from now on, I assure you. 'I welcome the investment from other clubs outside the Old Firm, I think that's really good for Scottish football. It's not good at all that Scottish clubs, historically, have not been doing well in Europe. That lowers the co-efficient, so even if you win the league, like [[Celtic]] this year, you have to win knockout games to get into the group stage of the Champions League. I'm very confident that the co-efficient will change over the next few years, it will be really good for Scottish football. I hope it will be good news for Hearts.'
The National
7 days ago
- Business
- The National
Celtic & Rangers domination is over, vows Hearts investor
The entrepreneur, who has a 29 per cent stake in the Tynecastle club, has vowed Scottish football will no longer be a two-horse race. Bloom made the blockbuster claim in a Foundation of Hearts event at Tynecastle on Sunday evening. He said: "I don't like the fact that the last 35 years has been completely dominated by the Old Firm and probably the last 15 years, apart from the one season when Rangers won the league, it's dominated by one club. "It's not good at all and I believe I can make a difference, I can help make a difference and I don't want it to be dominated just by two teams. Read more: "So I did look and thought about clubs in Scotland and as soon as I met Ann [Budge] and as soon as I really looked at Hearts, I knew this was the club that I liked to invest in and here I am today. "I think it's really important overall for Scottish football is for it not to be a one or two club show and it's not going to be from now on, I assure you. 'I welcome the investment from other clubs outside the Old Firm, I think that's really good for Scottish football. It's not good at all that Scottish clubs, historically, have not been doing well in Europe. That lowers the co-efficient, so even if you win the league, like [[Celtic]] this year, you have to win knockout games to get into the group stage of the Champions League. I'm very confident that the co-efficient will change over the next few years, it will be really good for Scottish football. I hope it will be good news for Hearts.'
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Ann Budge to step down at Hearts - why she is leaving, Tony Bloom impact, tributes and what comes next
'Queen of Hearts' will end 12-year tenure at end of year Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ann Budge will stand down as Hearts chair at the end of the year, explaining why it is the right time to step away from the role. Budge has been at the helm of Hearts for more than a decade after riding to the rescue back in 2014 to help save the club from going out of business. However, following the recent fresh investment from Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom and continued support from the Foundation of Hearts, she has informed the Tynecastle board of her intentions to vacate the post. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This is something I have thought long and hard about,' Budge said as Hearts announced the news on their club website. 'Having discussed this with the board, I feel now is the right time to confirm that I intend to step down later this year. Ann Budge will vacate her role as Hearts chair at the end of the year. | SNS Group 'When I first got involved with the Foundation of Hearts in 2013, I could not have envisaged the journey it would take me on. Initially, the aim was to stabilize the Club before even thinking of growth. Now, 12-years later, as I look at where the club stands, I can allow myself to feel a sense of pride at what we have achieved. 'With Tony Bloom's investment now complete, and the supporters ensconced as custodians of the club, I believe I have done what I set out to achieve. 'The appropriate time for reminiscing and saying goodbye will come after the AGM in December but until then, my full focus will remain on what it has always been, and that is doing my very best for Hearts and our fans.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Queen of Hearts' but also protests Labelled as the 'Queen of Hearts' for her impact on the club, Budge has played a hugely significant role during her 12-year involvement, including multiple Scottish Cup final appearances, third-place finishes and European campaigns. The 77-year-old also oversaw the construction of the club's new Main Stand and has had a major impact on the wider community. Despite being one of the major players in allowing Hearts to be saved following the Vladimir Romanov era, her tenure has not come without criticism, with some Hearts fans protesting against her reign and the way the club has been run under her watch. Budge will continue to hold a seat on the Hearts board through her shareholding but her decision to call time on being chair is another major signpost of change at Tynecastle following the arrival of Bloom, whose £9.86 million investment gives him a shareholding of 29 per cent. Paying tribute to her spell at Hearts, chief executive Officer Andrew McKinlay said; 'It cannot be overstated just how much Ann has done for Heart of Midlothian and on behalf of everyone at the club, I extend both my thanks and my gratitude. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'As we get closer to December's AGM we will update our supporters on our succession plans, but for now we will continue to enjoy and benefit from working with Ann until the end of her tenure as the club's Chair.' Foundation of Hearts Chairman Gerry Mallon added: 'Ann will leave a remarkable legacy when she departs the club and we are extremely fortunate to have had 12 years of her knowledge and experience at the helm of Hearts. Ann Budge helped save the club more than ten years ago. | SNS Group 'In particular, her participation during the birth of the Foundation of Hearts can never be downplayed, neither can the instrumental role she played in saving the club from the abyss and taking it back up to the top end of Scottish football.
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Why Hearts fans should raise glass to their Queen despite some Ann Budge grumblings
Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... All reigns must come to an end and Ann Budge, the Queen of Hearts, has decided this year will be her last in the Tynecastle hotseat. When Budge spearheaded Hearts' escape from oblivion following administration in 2013, perhaps not even she envisaged 12 years at the helm. Her ultimate goal was to get the Tynecastle side on a solid footing following years of financial mismanagement under Vladimir Romanov before handing over to the Foundation of Hearts. When she stands down as chair this December, that goal will not have been merely achieved - she leaves as one of the most influential figures in the club's history. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It has been quite the tenure for Budge. In no particular order: three third-placed finishes in the Scottish Premiership, three Scottish Cup finals, two Championship title success, numerous head coaches, director of footballs, a controversial relegation, a new stand and being at the forefront of Scottish football. A lot has happened at Hearts under her watch. Ann Budge revealed on Monday that she will vacate her position as chair come the end of the year. | SNS Group The most recent development likely made up Budge's mind to vacate her position. Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom last week acquired a 29 per cent shareholding of Hearts in exchange for £9.86 million. Change is coming at Tynecastle. While the Foundation of Hearts remains front and centre, there is reinforcement from Bloom's Jamestown Analytics company and his expertise. His goal is to 'disrupt' Scottish football. Many believe these are exciting times for Hearts, yet there would not be such anticipation if it was not for Budge. Now 77, she has done so many good things at Tynecastle. Her legacy is set in concrete with the club's plush Main Stand and hotel, which is one of the best football structures in the country. Perhaps more construction work should be carried out in the shape of a statue. After all, if it was not for her, Ian Murray and other key Foundation of Hearts players, this conversation may not be happening. Nevertheless, there will be a cohort of Jambos who will feel this decision is more than overdue, that Budge should have vacated the premises before now. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There have been protests. 'Heart of Midlothian, we're in the wrong hands,' was heard as recently as the spring when the team were toiling at the wrong end of the Premiership. During the Craig Levein and Daniel Stendel years, her judgment was questioned. Her loyalty to Levein in particular irked some supporters. Budge has done an excellent job financially at Hearts and has brought fresh investment to the table, whether it be Bloom or long-term benefactor James Anderson. Performances on the pitch have been up and down, although she will always rail against the club's relegation from the top flight when the 2019/20 season was cut short by Covid-19. Having visited Hampden multiple times, not winning one of the cups during her stewardship will be a source of regret. In announcing Budge's plans, Hearts were right to list so many of the good things she has done, not just within Tynecastle but in the wider community. Her charity work with Big Hearts, championing women's football and continually investing in grass-roots development is to be lauded. Budge takes pride from Hearts' position When Budge took over in 2013, her initial goal was to 'stabilise' Hearts before allowing it to grow. One of her first acts was to move away from a sponsorship deal with pay-day loan firm Wonga and used jerseys to highlight charities like Save the Children and MND Scotland. How the club carries itself, with decorum, respect and class, was important to her. She wanted things done the right way. 'As I look at where the club stands, I can allow myself to feel a sense of pride at what we have achieved,' she said on Monday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With the winds of change sweeping through Tynecastle, this feels like a logical time for Budge to relinquish chair duties. She will retain a seat on the board unless she decides between now and December to sell off her shares. A devoted family woman, Budge will no doubt relish spending more time with her loved ones - although Hearts became an adopted child, given all that she put into nurturing it back to health. Leaving on a more positive note is often a wise move, too. Even a couple of months ago, Hearts appeared on a sticky wicket following the failed appointment of Neil Critchley as head coach. The spectre of relegation was not completely exorcised until matchday 35 of an arduous season. Sacking Critchley was a wise move, as is appointing Derek McInnes as his successor. There is genuine optimism that Hearts can fight for at least third place in the league next season amid a flurry of new signings. Ann Budge has been at the helm of Hearts for 12 years. | SNS Group 'Ann will leave a remarkable legacy when she departs the club and we are extremely fortunate to have had 12 years of her knowledge and experience at the helm of Hearts,' said the current Foundation of Hearts chairman Gary Mallon. 'In particular, her participation during the birth of the Foundation of Hearts can never be downplayed, neither can the instrumental role she played in saving the club from the abyss and taking it back up to the top end of Scottish football. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'For that, I will be forever grateful to Ann, as I'm sure Hearts fans everywhere will be too.'
