Tony Bloom reaffirms Hearts will win Scottish Premiership within a decade ahead of Celtic Park return

Bloom stands by Hearts title vow

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom has reiterated his belief that Hearts will win the Scottish Premiership within a decade, saying he would be "really disappointed" if they fail to do so. The Tynecastle club's investor, who completed a near £10million investment last summer, vowed at the time to "disrupt the pattern of domination of Scottish football".

Hearts topped the table from September last season until the final day, when Celtic came from 1-0 down to win and leapfrog them in the closing minutes. It was the club's best chance in decades at a first top-flight title since 1960.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Bloom said: "The way it [last season] ended, in difficult circumstances from a Hearts point of view, is exceptionally disappointing for the club and for me as well. At the end of the day, we've got to accept what's happened, if not be happy about how things ended."

Asked whether he still believes Hearts will become the first non-Old Firm side to win the title since Aberdeen in 1985, he said: "Absolutely. I'd be really disappointed if Hearts have not won the Scottish Premiership within the 10 years."

A summer of change at Tynecastle

Hearts lost head coach Derek McInnes, captain Lawrence Shankland and midfielder Cammy Devlin to Rangers in the weeks after the defeat to Celtic. Alexandros Kyziridis and Alexander Schwolow also departed. Wouter Vrancken was appointed head coach, with Bloom's Jamestown Analytics network involved in the recruitment, and a number of new players arrived, including Calvin Miller, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Beau Reus.

The new season began badly, with Hearts losing their Champions League and Europa League qualifiers and their Premiership opener to Aberdeen. They have since recovered, and are now in the Conference League, into the League Cup semi-finals and third in the table, three points behind Rangers and two behind Celtic.

Bloom said: "We've started reasonably well, got a new head coach, so again we've got to be hopeful and optimistic for the season to come. It was really difficult with the head coach coming in literally just before the start of pre-season, but as a football club you have to recover, and you have to recover quickly. I think we have done.

"We've brought in a lot of new players, and there's a lot to play for in the season for Hearts, so I think there's a lot for the Hearts fans to look forward to this season."

Can Bloom deliver?

Bloom's record elsewhere gives his claims weight. Brighton, which he chairs and where Jamestown Analytics is also used, rose from League One to the Premier League and have finished in the top half in consecutive seasons. At Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise, where he became majority shareholder eight years ago, the same data-driven approach brought a Belgian Cup and then a first top-flight league title in 90 years. Jamestown Analytics is also involved at Como, who have risen to Serie A and finished fourth there last season.

Hearts face Celtic at Celtic Park on Sunday, with the match live on Sky Sports from 2.30pm.