‘Too long’ – Brighton man fires warning to Rangers and Celtic after £10m deal is confirmed

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ByMusa
June 25, 2025

Tony Bloom Confident Hearts Can Shake Up Scottish Football After Completing Investment

Tony Bloom believes Hearts are ready to challenge the status quo in Scottish football following the formal completion of his investment in the Edinburgh club.

The Brighton owner has invested £9.86 million in Hearts in exchange for a 29% stake in non-voting shares. As part of the agreement, Bloom gains one non-executive director seat on the Hearts board, which will be filled by James Franks, a long-time business associate and legal strategist with nearly 20 years of collaboration with Bloom.

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Bloom is optimistic that Hearts—who also have a data analysis partnership with his company, Jamestown Analytics—can disrupt the long-standing dominance of Celtic and Rangers, the only two clubs to have won Scotland’s top-flight title in the past four decades.

Bloom Excited About Hearts Stake

“I am absolutely delighted to be investing in Hearts,” Bloom told the club’s website. “I strongly believe this club has the potential to break the longstanding duopoly in Scottish football. Hearts have a promising future, and I’m excited to be part of that journey. James’s appointment reflects the significance of this investment—his expertise and deep understanding of football and business will be invaluable to the club.”

Chief executive Andrew McKinlay celebrated the completion of the deal, which had been in negotiations for over a year.

“On behalf of everyone at Hearts, I am thrilled to officially welcome Tony and James to the club,” McKinlay said. “This milestone is a testament to the faith and support of our fans, who overwhelmingly backed the proposal with a 98.5% approval vote from the Foundation of Hearts members. Turning this vision into reality required immense effort, and I extend my gratitude to all involved. We look forward to working with Tony and James as we begin this exciting new chapter.”

Franks echoed the enthusiasm, stating: “It’s a privilege to join the Hearts board. From my first visit to Tynecastle in March 2024, I could sense the club’s unique spirit. Every subsequent interaction with the management and the Foundation of Hearts reinforced that impression, and I’m proud to now call myself a Jambo. I’m eager to contribute to this next phase of the club’s storied history.”