Latest news with #JamesFranks
Times
41 minutes ago
- Business
- Times
Tony Bloom: I'm here to disrupt Scottish game and take on Old Firm
The Brighton & Hove Albion chairman, Tony Bloom, has spoken publicly for the first time about his £10million investment in Hearts and his intention to 'disrupt' Scottish football. Months of negotiations were completed when Hearts' members approved Bloom's plan to buy into the Edinburgh club via a 29 per cent stake of non-voting shares. The deal means there is no dilution of voting power for the fans' group and majority shareholder The Foundation of Hearts (FoH). Bloom's long-term right-hand man, James Franks, will become a director to represent him on the board. Bloom's £9.86million investment is a sum equal to about half of Hearts' annual turnover and amounts to a third significant source of additional income after the funds raised by the FoH's 8,000 monthly pledgers and by the annual multimillion-pound injections from the club director and benefactor James Anderson. Hearts also have about 15,500 season-ticket holders.
Edinburgh Reporter
2 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
New board member Franks ‘proud to be a Jambo'
James Franks joins the board of Heart of Midlothian FC following the completion of the £9.86m investment by Tony Bloom, but who is James Franks? He becomes a non-executive director and has been a legal and strategic business consultant to Bloom for nearly two decades. A press release from Hearts said Franks has a deep knowledge of football governance. It added: 'He played an integral role in Bloom's investment in Hearts as well as the investments in Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium and Melbourne Victoria in Australia.' Franks was a business adviser on the deals and, of his membership of the Jambos board, he said: 'I am honoured.' He added: 'From my first visit to Tynecastle in March 2024 as the initial step in the investment process, it was obvious to me just how special the club is. 'All of my subsequent visits and my interactions with the management team and the club and the Foundation of Hearts have strengthened that feeling. 'I am proud to call myself a Jambo. I welcome the opportunity to play my part in an exciting new chapter in the history of this wonderful club.' Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Tony Bloom sends Rangers & Celtic warning amid Hearts arrival
Bloom has acquired 29 percent of the Gorgie side. This was put to a vote by the Foundation of Hearts, who own the club. It passed at a recent EGM. James Franks has been freshly appointed to the Hearts board as Bloom's representative. Bloom told Sky Sports: "I am absolutely thrilled to be investing in Hearts. "I firmly believe in the club's ability to disrupt the pattern of domination of Scottish football which has been in place for far too long. "This great club has a bright future and I look forward to seeing that unfold in the months and years ahead. "The appointment of James as my representative on the board underlines the importance I attach to my investment in the club. "James has been a trusted associate of mine for many years and I believe that his wealth of experience in the football industry and strong business acumen will be a tremendous asset to the board and to the club." Franks added: "I am honoured to become a board member at Hearts. "From my first visit to Tynecastle in March 2024 as the initial step in the investment process, it was obvious to me just how special the club is. "All of my subsequent visits and my interactions with the management team at the club and with the Foundation of Hearts have strengthened that feeling and I'm proud now to call myself a Jambo. "I welcome the opportunity to play my part in an exciting new chapter in the history of this wonderful club."
Edinburgh Reporter
6 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Bloom completes investment in Hearts
Tony Bloom has completed his near £10m investment in Hearts and James Franks will now join the Tynecastle club's board as a non-executive director. Andrew Mckinlay, the Jambos' chief executive, confirmed the move and said the announcement was a culmination of the club's fans belief and support. He added: 'When Tony's investment proposal became public in May, it captured the imaginations of our supporters as demonstrated by Foyundation of Hearts members voting 98.5 per cent in favour. 'A tremendous amount of hard work as gone on behind the scenes to turn a proposal into a reality.' Bloom, who is the majority owner and chairman of English Premiership side, Brighton and Hove Albion, and now has a 29 per cent stake in the Gorgie club, said that he firmly believes in the club's ability to disrupt the pattern of domination of Scottish football. It has, he claimed, been in place too long and he added: 'This great club has a bright future and I look forward to seeing that unfold in the months and years ahead.' Like this: Like Related
CNA
11 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Brighton owner Bloom acquires stake in Scottish club Hearts
Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom has invested 9.86 million pounds ($13.41 million) to acquire a 29 per cent stake in Heart of Midlothian, the Scottish Premiership club said on Wednesday. Bloom's stake will be in non-voting shares and he has nominated James Franks, a long-time business consultant with experience of football governance, to join the club's board as a non-executive director. "I firmly believe in the club's ability to disrupt the pattern of domination of Scottish football which has been in place for far too long," Bloom said in a statement. "The appointment of James as my representative on the board underlines the importance I attach to my investment in the club. "James has been a trusted associate of mine for many years and I believe that his wealth of experience in the football industry and strong business acumen will be a tremendous asset to the board and to the club." Hearts finished seventh in the Premiership last season, reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals and played in the league phase of the Conference League. Bloom is also an investor in Belgian Pro League team Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, who ended their 90-year wait for the league title in the 2024-25 season. In March, he also reached an agreement to acquire an initial 19.1 per cent stake in Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory. ($1 = 0.7351 pounds)
