Brighton owner Bloom bids for 29% stake in Hearts

Owner of Hove Albion, Brighton & Tony Bloom has made a formal offer to purchase a 29% stake in Heart of Midlothian for just under £10 million.

The Scottish Premiership club’s major shareholder, the supporters’ group Foundation of Hearts (FoH), will take the proposal into account and need to have more than 50% of its members’ approval before it can be successful.

On May 26, a consultation period will end, with a vote taking place following an extraordinary general meeting.

Bloom would purchase shares with no voting rights, which would not have an impact on FoH’s 75.1% of the vote.

If successful, Bloom would have the option of having a representative rather than himself, and he would also have one seat on the board.

The Scottish FA would then be required to give its consent for the deal to be concluded if the terms are approved by FoH.

The proposed investment is a personal one, according to FoH, and Hearts won’t become a feeder club for Premier League side Brighton or Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise, where Bloom is a minority shareholder, or a member of a multi-club system.

Since Bloom’s name first became associated with the club last year, the conversation has raged among many Hearts supporters.

The club will receive the money exactly when it needs to be, even if it is approved, and there is no compelling reason for it to be that way.

The 2025/26 campaign’s income will significantly decrease because there won’t be any European football to watch next season.

An additional nearly £10 million will be welcomed within the Hearts board with the desperately needed investment in the squad following a incredibly disappointing term.

However, as we’ve already seen in the past, money ultimately does not equal success. It’s all about how much money is made. Every transaction should have a value-for-money component.