In November we discussed Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s interest in Hearts. Yesterday, Hearts announced that Bloom has made a £9.86m offer to buy a 29% stake in the club, which is currently controlled through the Foundation of Hearts fan group which saved the club from liquidation in 2013.
This prospective shareholding would keep Bloom within Football Association duel ownership rules, in the event Brighton were relegated from the Premier League. I have no doubt that the fine print would allow Bloom control over all football operations.
Bloom, a gambling savant, is one of the most impressive operators in the game. His football algorithms are private, but they result in a total commitment to a player development model. He understands that if a club is to reach its potential, it must fill every space in the squad with players who can develop and be sold at a profit.
There are no passengers, not mid-career drifters. Guru managers do not exist in Bloom’s world, those who fail to develop or give opportunity to players, do not last. Even Hearts fans cannot be thick enough to turn this down.
It would be great news for Scottish football, including our Uefa coefficient (eventually). Celtic would face a fresh challenge from a competitor who is less indulgent than we are.
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And jail them now
All the reporting around the sevco takeover has strangely ignored the (Companies Act 2006) requirement to make an offer for all existing shares (at the highest traded price over the preceding 12 months), when an individual or party acting in concert seek to exceed 30% ownership.
If you recall Dave King and friends fell foul of this when they were found to be acting in concert when extending their collective shareholding beyond 30% back in 2017-ish.
It’s a strange aspect for the media to remain silent on, especially as there’s a recent example. And I suspect this may be the more pressing reason for Bloom’s purchase of Hearts being limited to 29%.
So Bloom wouldn’t sign a Moravcik or Kasper Schmeichel ?
Football is easy when you don’t have to win trophies.
i see different explanations of why the consortium do not need make an offer to all shareholders.
they are not getting 51 percent.
they will aquire ownership by having a new share issue .
Is this the article you are referring to?
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/the-gamblers-manager/
“I know little about Critchley but there is one reason to believe he will be a success – his appointment was recommended by Brighton owner and potential Hearts investor, Tony Bloom”
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Wonder how it’s going so far…….
very funny backpage for the record today
oh no we cant spend on olaers because of fsr.
as if it wasnt already in place when they started.
dave king on talkshite this morning
hopeful of a deal by mid june
that bit i am puzzled with why doesnt he just sell his own shares . does that need board approval ?
St Stivs – The threshold is 30%, as was widely reported at the time of the King bid.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47002304
With European riches on offer, the sleeping giants of Scottish football have certainly got investors interested.
Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics has been working with Hearts since November, although it isn’t a long time in football team building, we have seen Hearts go backwards in that time.
Jamestown Analytics recommended Neil Critchley for the role of Manager – he was not a guru manager as it turns out.
Our hope must be this is a blip and that Bloom and Jamestown Analytics have a real impact at Hearts now, the Capital should have a Club capable of vying for Silverware and competitive in Europe
Yet every aspect of Celtic is much better run these days and with more ambitious targets, Bloom will be doing well if he manages to displace the Scotland’s current No2 which is way behind Celtic.
As usual, we should concern ourselves about Celtic and what we can achieve, as we are in a league of our own.
Yet a high tide raises all boats, and I look forward to that.
Hail Hail
A sensible mix of core contributors and short term shooting stars who see Celtic as a stepping stone to a bigger league is necessary , not the bloom approach, Hearts aren’t Celtic with the demands to win trophies and compete in CL football they failed at conference level football and hired a coach who coached the team to being unable to score goals ,and Celtic’s academy what is to happen there? The production of players is not happening and hasn’t for a long time.
Blooms offer then values Hearts at £30M, not that much in todays’ football envoronment even in Scotland. Are Hearts debt free does anyone know?
Just heard The Lying King on Talksport, he said he asked this mob if they had proof of funds,and they were Fit and Proper,nearly crashed the car ffs….hun prk Jim White never asked about the banner or the bottle on the park
You might wonder how much of Tony Blooms success is down to his emotional and financial investment – he’s a Brighton supporter and has put a lot of his own money in. But he’s also taken Brighton from the third tier to the EPL and they are firmly established there, and have become genuine contenders for European places every season.
I guess you could say that Brighton dont actually win anything and are under no pressure to, but hus record at USG answers that. Hetook them over when they were very much a second tier club , took them up in the first season then they won the top tier in two of the next three seasons. They are a top 3 club now.
Hearts have a genuine opportunity to challenge a Sevco that will be going through the growing pains that we did under our new ownership a long time ago. They should look forward to third every year, second should be a genuine possibility.
It’s a great thing for Scottish football, I’d loved to see him and more like him making our league more competitive. Shame it would be Hearts who’d benefit but you cant have everything in life
Talking of sleekit media monkeys,Luke Shanley on Sky after the game, asked Brendan about the bottle on the park,he never asked Ferguson or anyone else there about it.
Brighton have done really well, although they could be doing even better with somebody like Danny Welbeck, but he probably doesn’t fit their model…..
BBC were so outraged by the tifo they decided to use it as the backdrop when showing the team selections on sportscene.
SonsOfErin- seriously?
I guess you could say that Brighton dont actually win anything and are under no pressure to, but hus record at USG answers that. Hetook them over when they were very much a second tier club , took them up in the first season then they won the top tier in two of the next three seasons.
——
They finished top 2 years but then lost the championship play offs.
You’d have to be in your 90s to remember the last time Union were crowned Belgian Champions.
That doesn’t strike me as a Club that must win trophies.
Chairbhoy
I think the new European format has made Scottish clubs more attractive to investors. A small amount of investment and a decent manager could propel Aberdeen Dundee Utd Hearts or Hibs into third place (if not second) place in the league with access to Europe.
One problem for Scottish teams is losing players to England on the cheap… I suspect that Bloom will do everything he can to prevent this.
Bada Bing – Check it out.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002c4vc/sportscene-premiership-highlights-202425-rangers-v-celtic-highlights
Ian Crocker of Sky gets flack on here for bumming up the monkey’s but at least he alternates “Old Firm” with it’s a Glasgow Derby from time to time. Never heard Eildh Barbour(St. Johnstone fan) do the same.
Of course Dave King was the only Director of Rangers FC as was, listed as a creditor on the BDO reports, to the tune of £20 million no less, and now alas no more. Can happen when you put your trust in the Charlatan of Charlotte Square, you know the one made Knight of the Realm, on Pa Broon’s nod. Oh aye.
So thwarted since October following the liquidation of Rangers FC, (but not the Old Firm brands listed at Companies House) Dave King now hopes to salvage something from the wreckage, by hawking his shares in the new club, to the prospective buyers an apparent offshoot of the 49rs. Who better to call than Jim (red, blue &) White of Talksport. The very same Jim White who travelled half way doon the planet to visit the lying King, and marvel at his wine cellar, and oh what a sight to behold, forty thousand boattles, …..missing only…..a half boatlle o Buckfast
SonsOfErin- I checked it out as I had it recorded,it looks blurred out to be fair
Celtic Mac on 7th May 2025 2:01 pm
Seems the interview in South Africa, wasn’t even in King’s house…..wine cellars my a$#@
YORKBHOY @ 1:56 PM,
Yes, agreed, the cost of doing football business in Scotland, for potential European riches compared to say England, are miniscule in Scotland.
There is a risk of loosing good players to England yet this is a two edged sword – maximise your recruitment business getting young players with potential in and developing them to sell to England has to be very tempting.
Yet as Celtic have found out, to maximise your footballing success you need a mix of players, prodominently quality, experienced players are a must for any winning team*
Of course, Brighton can buy 20/30 mn pound prospects – Celtic can buy 10 mn pound prospects -Hearts will be vying in the high risk 2, 3, 4 mn pound prospective recruitment bracket.
As Celtic showed this is very hit and miss area of recruitment.
Yet if Hearts get it right they could well start to push ahead of their current competition – dividing the Glasgow giants will be a big ask though.
*Of course SAF putting his team of kids out were a phenomenon, yet surely the exception that proved the rule – and they were a hugely talented bunch of kids that Brain Kidd was very clearly aware of.
Hail Hail
I’ll be watching with interest to see if Bloom’s algo picks McInnes as their next manager.
!!bada bing!!
At least Jim Traylor was served up succulant lamb….and a glass o red…..
Chairbhoy
Brighton’s goals are to stay in the EPL and occasionally have a decent cup run.
Heart’s goals are to stay in the spl and have a decent cup run with the added bonus of Europe.
I agree about the level of investment needed. Most epl teams, even with the massive tv money, sponsorship and high season ticket prices nearly every club are making a loss.
Interesting to see if Blooms investment leads to others doing the same.
Of course SAF putting his team of kids out were a phenomenon, yet surely the exception that proved the rule – and they were a hugely talented bunch of kids that Brain Kidd was very clearly aware of.
—
Like the current young guns at Barca – the class of 92 were a product of their youth academy- not a player trading model.
Seems the computer which threw up Critchley’s name,was Horizon one which the Post Office used…
The tifo was indeed blurred out. They knew but still had it up.
Bizarre.
AN DÚN on 7TH MAY 2025 1:54 PM
I don’t see how having to win things makes any difference to the merits of the model or not. It’s a strange thing to judge anyone’s success against, especially when it’s at a club that hasnt had any success like Brighton.
Since it’s Hearts we’re talking about I reckon they’d gladly go for a Scottish cup and a couple of runners up spots, along with a quarter final in the Europa in the last 4 years.
If Hearts are looking at Scottish managers it has to be Robinson not McInnes, anyway who cares it’s Hearts hope they make another mistake.
p67; I find your fanbhoy adoration of the Jam Farts’ Tony Bloom quite bizarre.
Particularly when contrasted with the scathing disregard you’ve regularly expressed for our Brendan.
Bloom’s a gambling savant, yet Brendan’s a football savant but we know which one gives you turgescence.
His analytics machine has been in-situ at Tyney for near 6-months and saw Critchely in and out the revolving door. Or is Tony himself the only one who can operate the software ?
As for ‘There are no passengers, not mid-career drifters…’ how do you explain Kabangu (27), Steinwender (25), Kartum (29), McCart (27) Dhanda (26) Jorge Grant (31) Allan Forrest (31), Barrie McKay (31) etc….?
They should change the name to FC Drifters, ffs !
Was AI given the chance to write this article, or was it the Jamestown Analytics itself wot writ this piece ??
LOVE’SINBLOOM HSC
Good afternoon CQN.
Love this site and have genuine respect for Paul67 for coming up with the goods daily.
This one doesn’t excite me all that much.
I suspect I am old fashioned.
I use and value data but I also use and value my own gut plus the imponderable that is human spirit (both of which can occasionally defy logic and go against the numbers).
Happy to concede Tony Bloom is a very smart innovative guy doing lots of things better than most other owners in the game.
“He understands that if a club is to reach its potential, it must fill every space in the squad with players who can develop and be sold at a profit”
Accepted.
But if one replaces “club” with “team”?
“There are no passengers, not mid-career drifters”
I’m confident the same applies to Celtic.
PS – data cannot give a team its identity. That comes from a manager and the culture of the club.
From the heart stuff.
Supported by data?
And resources?
And an athletic centre of excellence?
… Can yield good things.
Bloom invests in potential – with a ceiling. Clubs that are content with mixing it up and getting the odd cup run.
Any would be purchaser of the Huns for example will very quickly come to realise that breaking even, or posting profits, will count for little without trophies. That’s probably one of the reasons why Bloom invests in ‘also ran’ clubs.
It’s a funny world we inhabit on here
For years we heard about how our domestic success was devalued by the poor opposition, how success was achieved despite rather than because of how we were run.
Envious glances at Brentford and Brighton, every season another small club doing well in the champions league – why not us
Until we see what works for them and has got them the success that has brought them to our attention. At which point it’s dismissed.
It would be interesting to know the success rates of the different models are domestically and in Europe. How many examples are there over the last ten years of sustained success of tge diffetent approaches
Perhaps a more analytical approach wouldnt sit well with the ludites and and serial contrarians but it might provide us with a better understanding beyond the usual stuff that gets regurgitated
To start with; outline your model and give us evidence of success over a ten year period. Perhaps even measured against ours in a similar period.
Im not hopeful – I scraped a large amount of data from transfermarkt a few years ago, with a view to studying transfer fees paid by EPL clubs. I laid out the data on here, it showed the extent to which transfer fees paid to clubs in leagues outside the big 5 dropped significantly after the age of 25. Materially important to Celtic. It was dismissed and ignored.
AN DÚN on 7TH MAY 2025 2:50 PM
Bloom invests in potential – with a ceiling. Clubs that are content with mixing it up and getting the odd cup run.
So you’re saying his methods won’t work at Celtic because we need to win things?
Haven’t you and people like you been saying domestic success is easy?
So we employ similar methods to Tony Bloom and win loads of trophies
But his methods wouldnt work at Celtic because they only work at clubs that don’t need to win anything