By George France

In summer 2025, away up in Gorgie at Tynecastle Park, Heart of Midlothian Football Club prepare for the new campaign. No better way to begin the first season under newly appointed manager Derek McInnes than a home win in the first league game of the season against Aberdeen that kicked off a 12-match unbeaten run.

Having beaten both Rangers and Celtic in the first phase of fixtures, Hearts racked up a total of 28 points from a maximum of 36, putting themselves first at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

For generations the Scottish top-flight has been dominated by the Old-Firm duo and out of the blue Hearts were 13 points clear of second place Celtic. All eyes were on the SPFL once again, a Leicester City like underdog was on the cards and everyone in maroon had belief. Could this be the first Scottish champions out with the Old-Firm since Sir Alex Ferguson won it for Aberdeen in 1985?

In June of 2025, Tony Bloom invested a total £9.86m into the club which gave him a 29% stake in the club in non-voting shares. Tony Bloom is a professional gambler, majority owner and chairman of English Premiership side Brighton & Hove Albion and investor and shareholder in Union Saint-Gilloise. Bloom is also a minority shareholder of Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory.

Frankie Kent looks dejected after the game against Kilmarnock via Getty Images

Tony Bloom founded Jamestown Analytics which is a secretive football analysis company that provides services to clubs and coach recruitment, player valuations and opposition analysis. Hearts have managed to secure exclusive access to Jamestown Analytics after the investment of Tony Bloom.

Meanwhile, in Glasgow, Rangers newly appointed Russell Martin crashed and burned almost instantly resulting in the termination of his contract after a series of bad results which saw one of the worst starts to a season the club has ever gone through. This also made his time as Rangers’ manager the shortest ever at 123 days taking over from Paul Le Guen.

Celtic have had multiple fan issues and boardroom problems resulting in the departure of manager Brendan Rodgers and assistant manager John Kennedy. This resulted in the club going through a phase of bad results and the appointment of interim manager and Celtic legend Martin O’Neill.

Tony Bloom celebrates after match against Celtic via Getty Images

Martin O’Neill has since come in, steadied the ship and took advantage of Hearts bad run of form, who haven’t won in four games. This has closed the gap at the top of the table placing Celtic level with Hearts on points ahead of this weekend's fixture between the two at Parkhead. If Celtic win they will go three points ahead of Hearts with a game in hand.

Hearts are scheduled to play Celtic this Saturday at Parkhead, after Celtic have appointed their new manager Wilfred Nancy, sparking a series of hard games to come for the club before the turn of the year. After Celtic, Hearts are scheduled to play Falkirk away on a Saturday night, followed by Rangers at home before Christmas. Finally, the Edinburgh derby against Hibs at Easter Road after Christmas.

Hearts are projected four points from 12 and this could spell the end in title hopes. Not a lack of ambitions but a lack of good form has sold Derek McInnes’ side down the river, but ambitions are still high as third place Motherwell and fourth place Rangers remain nine points behind.

The breakdown of Hearts.