The Tony Bloom Hearts factor that proves Jambos title bid won't be a one hit wonder amid mentality shift
The Jambos investor predicted a Hearts title win at the start of the season
Former Hearts midfielder Robert Snodgrass and ex Motherwell striker Don Goodman both think the Jambos will have enough to get over the line in the title race - and the latter doesn’t think it’ll be a one-off due to the impact of one man.
Investor Tony Bloom has a track record of transforming clubs for the better and his Midas touch has extended to Tynecastle this season as Hearts continue to defy the odds. The Jambos sit top of the pile in the Premiership with just two games remaining as they edge closer and closer to their first top flight win since 1960.
Bloom predicted at the start of the season that Hearts would topple Celtic and Rangers to league glory ‘in the next 10 years’. However, if they can hold it together for their last two, he may well get his wish granted nine years early. In a season that has broken the 40-year mold of Old Firm dominance, many are claiming Scottish football will never see the likes again, however ex Sunderland forward Goodman believes Hearts are only just getting started, with Bloom’s financial-backing. Furthermore, ex Leeds and West Ham man Snodgrass fancies his old team to go all the way.
Bloom addition has ‘raised the bar’
Snodgrass believes the entrepreneur has instilled a competitive belief in the squad, that perhaps wasn’t there when he played in Gorgie four years ago. He told OLBG: "Everything is still to play for between Celtic and Hearts. This has likely been the biggest week in the lives of everyone involved in both changing rooms, from the new players coming into Celtic to Derek McInnes, who has been in this position before and has done an absolutely amazing job.
“In a general sense, the addition of Tony Bloom has provided exactly the kind of injection the Hearts needed to raise the bar and instil the belief that was perhaps lacking when I was there. Back then, there was probably an element of just being happy to finish in the European places, but now they are truly raising the standard.
"I did actually think it was possible that Hearts could challenge for the title. I certainly had a wealth of great talent around me when I was there. Looking back now, those were exactly the points we were trying to drive home because I had played at levels that made me realise, 'Guys, we have a real opportunity here.' We had a quality staff at the time, but as with any football club, you fundamentally need to have belief.
Goodman on Bloom factor that opposes one season wonder status
Before Hearts, Bloom transformed Brighton and Hove Albion go from EFL League One into Premier League European place hopefuls, while he also helped Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise win their first top flight title in 90 years. Goodman believes at Hearts he can now ‘shake things up’ not only this season, but in the future as well.
He told PariMatch: “I have them (Hearts) as favourites. The fact that Tony Bloom is investing and wants to make them compete at the top of the league gives me the belief that they are going to be in the shakeup for years to come. This is not a one-off where Celtic and Rangers will continue to dominate the league as they have for decades. I think Hearts will regularly be in the mix with those two now. These are exciting times.”
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