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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YORKBHOY @ 2:21 PM,
Yes, and I guess that’s the $64K question.
What would Tony Bloom be looking for as success at Hearts!?
For me, the Celtic hierarchy decided to take the opportunity that Rangers timely death afforded them and use recruitment as a business model.
Feeling that the league was interested the bag and UCL football was a step too far, they looked to maximise moneyball as a revenue stream.
Still Celtic’s implementation of their moneyball system was infamously flakey, without a COO nor a Sports Director to oversee it.
If Hearts are happy to be behind Celtic and R2ngers and be ahead of the also rans and get Europa/Conference League football every season, then you would think a well worked recruitment, revenue strategy was doable.
Of course, TB has told the Foundation of Hearts that he doesn’t see the Edinburgh team as a feeder Club for USG or Brighton &HA, however, that doesn’t necessary mean he doesn’t see potential in inter-club trading.
With FSR a weight around the neck of most ambitious European Clubs, a savant might just have a canny idea of getting the next Matt O’Riley on the cheap…
Hail Hail
bigrailroadblues on 7th May 2025 10:37 am
Nobody told me there would be days like these….strange days indeed.
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My mama told me…
AN DÚN @ 2:22 PM,
Yes, every country and club that invested in a youth academy has got benefits from it.
Not pursuing the academy at Lennoxtown was a huge decision and a big mistake in my book.
We have fallen between two stools ever since.
Hopefully the new Barrowfield will see proper investment and development path for our youth.
Hail Hail
The same Jim White who was papped off a BA flight years ago for p1shing himself, Probably the reason he gave up the bevvy.
It will be interesting to have a look at Triantis of Hibs on Saturday, a young Greek-Aussie on loan from Sunderland, a big strong defensive midfielder nominated for the hacks’ football award. Sounds like just what we need, though Sunderland would no doubt want a good fee. Has anyone seen much of him?
Bloom cares about one thing – making money. He doesn’t care nor will he come under the remotest of pressures should Brighton go another 100 years without winning anything. If Union go another 90 years without a Belgian title – it will mean nothing to him. It’s fundamentally about making money for him.
I get the feeling P67 would be quite happy to post £40 million profit next season and lose the league.
I wouldn’t. I’m a football fan not an investor. Whether Celtic have 70 or 100 million in the bank means nothing to me.
Fundamentally P67 thinks football is about spreadsheets and balance sheets. He fails to appreciate the football knowledge and professionalism of our manager and coaches that make us what we are today.
Accountants couldn’t run Celtic. It takes a football man to do it. Respect that. Know your limits in life.
CHAIRBHOY on 7TH MAY 2025 3:11 PM
It’s not moneyball.
Could you outline your alternative model please?
In the past few years you’ve told me you favored a squad with a team for domestic games and a different one for European football
More recently you talked about a jock stein sized squad
What’s the plan this week?
AN DÚN on 7TH MAY 2025 4:08 PM
Bloom cares about one thing – making money.
He’s a lifelong Brighton fan. His Uncle was a director, his grandfather was vice chairman.
He’s invested 500 million in Brighton according to google.
I think he might be in it for something other than a return
All that money, all that personal time and emotional investment and yet he still persists with that stupid model
Good afternoon all from the Victoria Bar.
What will huns say if next POPE IS CLEMENTE from PORTUGAL’
No matter how good Inter Milan looked last night, I bet they are praying that they don’t get Celtic in the Final.
Seems guys getting access to buy Cup final tickets without getting an email
An Dun
I know he likes money but he does like football too and he has good connection with the club through family and not just his cash investment.
It’s a wee bit harsh to judge him on 6 months indirect influence at the basket case club at Tynecastle. They did end up 7th. After being 12th when he got his man involved.
It’s a real shame this place polarises and nobody really takes a balanced view these days.
Bloom maybe good and maybe not for Hearts. Time will tell but a cup final every few yesss and Europe every season plus a cup win every 10 would be good I reckon.
What is a football club for? It’s not for making money for directors
My club was for raising money for charity and then found their niche by winning trophies. I would like to see greater deeds by the foundation and the like. However my family and I support the Celtic and look forward to winning honous. We seem to be good at that.
Celtics model does use analytics to scout players but we don’t sign players based on that. We send Scouts to watch the players and then if they pass that stage we send our coaches to watch the players. Then Brendan looks the player over to see he fits his profile.
I don’t see how Blooms approach could work for Celtic. I don’t see it working at Hearts either. Any good players Hearts find will shortly be moved to England or Belgium. If I was a Hearts shareholder I would vote against selling control of my club to someone who looks to make money.
I am a season ticket holder and an Investor shareholder and I donate to the Foundation. I don’t want Bloom or 49 at my club and I would fight to keep
I am keeping my pitchfork sharp
90 %
what a weird way to put it
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn050wkq4p4o
There are many people out there sickened by the success of Brendan Rodgers. That’s why a man that won promotion from the championship gets manager of the year over a man on the cusp of a treble after going toe to toe with Bayern Munich.
That’s why some Celtic fans think an algorithm is more qualified than our ‘guru’ manager.
5/6 trebles and 2 doubles since he walked in through the doors would suggest to me that if success for Celtic is our driving force, then a contract extension for the guru should be our priority.
An Dun,
McGlynn is a worthy winner-ish.
and he praises his time with Celtic as allowing him to learn from Brendan.
Brooms first data mine has come back with a startling insight, he has found out to make the club succesful all he has to do is beat the Rangers.
Something that they have been unable to do, often enough these last 7 seasons.
i have asked this before, but what age were each of the lions when they won that first cup final in 65 ?
90% you say.
—————–
Man of the week
Ex-Rangers director Dave King, correcting any wrong impressions given by his 41 tax fraud convictions. King, looking to return, says 2013’s resolution to the case in South Africa – paying £44m to avoid 82 years in prison – was “a favourable settlement” that allows him to start over, “without the integrity issues that previously dogged me”.
Among the key favourable lines from judge Mr Justice Southwood in 2010: “Mr King is extremely arrogant, and obviously thinks that whatever he says is so”; “He has no respect for the truth” and: “In our assessment, is a glib and shameless liar.”
Seems like a Bloom or Bust cycle. And surely players over 25 are just late bloomers Just have to use your loaf.
The better the competition the beater you need to be to win it. Every club should push themselves to be the best version of themselves be it hibs, hearts, aberdeen, sevco or celtic. The big city clubs in Scotland have been ridiculously underachieving for many years, particularly when yoy look across the continent at similiar size clubs.
Celtic have developed a business plan that involves development and resale. I enjoy watching quality young players developing into quality establiahed players. I would like those players to come from the academy but its unrealistic to think you can get lots of players from that particular well on a yearly basis.
I also like quality players to come in for no other reason than to win games of football. That is particularly important when your in a more competitive league. There is a sweet spot hybride that should always be the aim for clubs.
Failure to develop players can be costly but not as costly as failure because to much emphasis is being placed on developing players to sell.
Tonight Matthew I’m going to be a………..….PSG fan
THE Orange Order has demanded an “immediate meeting” with the First Minister after female members were allegedly targeted by online trolls.
The organisation’s ladies are said to have suffered “emotional distress” and “trauma” over “deeply offensive” comments which followed a recent march.
No laughing at the back….
Evening all
Black smoke at The Vatican.
No Pope elected.
!!BADA BING!!
I saw some of the pictures from the march. I have to agree as I’ve suffered emotional distress and trauma. They are truly terrifying.
SAINT STIVS on 7TH MAY 2025 5:55 PM
i have asked this before, but what age were each of the lions when they won that first cup final in 65 ?
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Fallon 25yrs
Gemmell 21 yrs
McNeill 25 yrs
Clark 24 yrs
Murdoch 21 yrs
Auld 27 yrs
Lennox 24 yrs
Chalmers 29 yrs
Approx CSC
It’s unbelievable the amount of times Super Salary says unbelievable
CELTIC40ME @ 4:11 PM,
“CHAIRBHOY on 7TH MAY 2025 3:11 PM
It’s not moneyball.
Could you outline your alternative model please?
In the past few years you’ve told me you favored a squad with a team for domestic games and a different one for European football
More recently you talked about a jock stein sized squad
What’s the plan this week?
My point regarding Jock Stein was when he arrived, Celtic had three teams.
The first team, the reserves and the thirds…
Jock looked at the players, streamlined them into a first team and Celtic reserves then let many players go and brought in a few, Joe McBride and a few years later persuaded a young Kenny Dalglish to join Celtic.
The first team gave us the lions, the reserves gave us the quality street gang.
Bringing in a top Manager/Coach and letting him do his job is a good plan in it’s own.
There doesn’t have to be an alternative model
Our recruitment is in fine fettle, the only question mark is, will the Celtic PLC back Celtic FC in the summer.
If they do our incremental improvements over the last few seasons will continue and we can establish ourselves as a UCL Club.
We can see what a marvellous Club tournament it is – we want to be part of that by excelling as a football team.
Forget the “recruitment model” nonsense, it’s a myth…
Hail Hail
Switch to Premier Irish coverage
Yaaaaaasssssssss
Great thought of no English finalists in UCL.
If a bad person, so be it.
And don’t mind reduced covered has happened before.
Another great game.They just keep coming.
i would be ok with KT returning with a European medal.
Proving the celtic academy can produce elite level footballers/
other than that i dont really care.
Kelvin Wilson played away and home against Barcelona back in our 125th year in 2012, famously winning 2-1, that alone puts him above CCV, was sorry to see him leave when he did.
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Efe Ambrose partnered Kelvin Wilson in those games. Does that make Efe a better CH than CCV?
By your rule of thumb, is Tony Watt a better goal scorer than Kyogo, Griffiths, Hooper, Dembele, Commons, McDonald, etc?
Dearie me. Shot to pieces…LOL
HH
WILD Celtic End Scenes After Adam Idah Goal & MORE Simply The Best | Rangers 1-1 Celtic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkcsHOSdshk