Kris Boyd has warned that Rangers and Celtic “should be worried” about Tony Bloom’s potential involvement with Hearts, which could shake up the dynamic of Scottish football.
Speaking on Sky Sports News (18 September, 10:30am), the former Rangers striker pointed to Bloom’s successful track record at Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, suggesting that his influence at Tynecastle could significantly narrow the gap between the Old Firm and Hearts.
Bloom, who has built a reputation as a shrewd operator in football, helped elevate Brighton to a stable Premier League side and oversaw the remarkable rise of Union Saint-Gilloise, who have become a force in Belgian football.
Boyd believes a similar transformation could be on the cards for Hearts if Bloom invests in their recruitment team.
“This is an interesting one for Scottish football. Hearts won’t be on the same page as Brighton in terms of recruitment, but you look at Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium and their rise under Tony Bloom,” Boyd explained.
“They’ve caused problems for the big ones, so if I’m Rangers and Celtic, I’m worried about his appointment – if I’m Hearts, I’m biting your hands off.”
He continued, “Rangers and Celtic should be worried. There is potential for Hearts to go and challenge Rangers and Celtic. This could be a big thing for Scottish football.”
Despite Hearts’ current struggles at the foot of the Scottish Premiership, with just a single point to their name, Boyd’s comments have raised hopes among the Tynecastle faithful.
That sole point came from a draw against Rangers on the opening day of the season, though both clubs have had far from ideal starts.
Rangers’ interest in Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland dominated headlines over the summer, but his decision to stay at the Edinburgh club hasn’t yet yielded the results Hearts hoped for.
However, if Bloom brings his recruitment expertise to Tynecastle, the Jam Tarts could soon be competing for top honours and challenging the dominance of Rangers and Celtic in the Scottish game.
Jim Duffy, the former football manager, has already suggested that Rangers should try to attract Bloom’s attention if he is interested in investing in Scottish football.
Boyd’s remarks suggest that both Glasgow clubs would do well to take the potential threat from Hearts seriously, should Bloom indeed become involved at Tynecastle.