Hearts investor Tony Bloom has reiterated his belief that the Edinburgh club can win the Scottish Premiership within a decade, setting the stage for their return to Celtic Park this weekend. The Brighton chairman's comments come as ST Johnstone, sitting 5th in the Premiership with 11 points, prepare for their own key home fixture against Dundee Utd.
Bloom, who completed a major investment in Hearts last summer, told broadcasters he would be "really disappointed" if the club failed to lift the title by 2035. He initially set the target when vowing to disrupt the long-standing dominance of Celtic and Rangers.
Bloom acknowledged the pain of last season's finale, where Hearts led the league for 250 days only to lose the title to Celtic on the final day. "The way it ended, in difficult circumstances from a Hearts point of view, is exceptionally disappointing for the club and for me as well," he said. "We've got to accept what's happened."
Despite that setback and a summer of significant change at Tynecastle, Bloom remains confident. "I'd be really disappointed if Hearts have not won the Scottish Premiership within the 10 years," he stated when asked about his original ambition.
Hearts currently sit third, five points behind leaders Celtic ahead of Sunday's meeting between the two sides. Bloom pointed to a strong start under new head coach Wouter Vrancken and a squad overhaul as reasons for optimism. "We've started reasonably well," he added. "There's a lot for the Hearts fans to look forward to."
For ST Johnstone, the focus is on consolidating their mid-table position. Their recent form shows two wins, two draws and one loss from their last five matches, including a vital 1-0 victory at Aberdeen last time out thanks to a J. Fowler penalty.
The Perth side now turn their attention to a home match against sixth-placed Dundee Utd. A positive result could see them climb the standings, where they currently have an even goal difference of 10 scored and 10 conceded. The match at McDiarmid Park is scheduled for 17 October.
