Tony Bloom Declares End of Old Firm Monopoly in Scottish Football
Hearts investor Tony Bloom has boldly claimed that the long-standing dominance of Celtic and Rangers in Scottish football is coming to an end.
The businessman, who owns a 29% stake in Hearts, made his views clear during a passionate address at a Foundation of Hearts event at Tynecastle on Sunday evening.
Speaking to supporters and stakeholders, Bloom said:
“Frankly, I’m not a fan of the way the last 35 years have unfolded in Scottish football. The league has been almost entirely under the control of the Old Firm, and if we’re honest, the past 15 years have mainly been a one-club show, except for the season Rangers won the title. That’s not healthy for the sport.”
Bloom emphasized that he’s not just investing for financial return, but because he wants to see the competitive balanceof the league restored. He continued:
“I genuinely believe that change is possible. I want to be part of that change — part of something that opens up Scottish football and brings real competition beyond just two clubs.”
Explaining how he chose to invest in Hearts, Bloom said:
“When I started looking at Scottish clubs, Hearts stood out immediately. After meeting Ann Budge and learning more about the club’s vision and values, I knew this was the right place for me. Now that I’m involved, I’m fully committed.”
Bloom also spoke about the broader future of the game in Scotland:
“It’s vital for the health of Scottish football that the top flight isn’t dominated by one or two clubs. That kind of structure isn’t sustainable, and I assure you — that era is coming to a close.”
He praised the involvement of other investors outside the Glasgow giants and pointed to the importance of improving European performances:
“I’m really encouraged to see more investment coming into clubs beyond the Old Firm. That’s a positive step. But we also need Scottish clubs to perform better in Europe — historically, that’s been an issue. It’s hurt the country’s UEFA co-efficient, meaning that even if you win the league, like Celtic did this year, you still face qualifiers just to reach the Champions League group stage.”
“I’m confident we’ll see progress there in the next few years, and that will lift the entire Scottish game. My hope is that Hearts can play a key role in that transformation.”
Leave a Reply