Tony Bloom 10 million Investment and Access to Brighton's Recruitment Model.

[CritchSmile]

Deserves it's own thread, tbh.

[King Kebab]

It does, and it's a little bit exciting, but it's only going to work with proper coaches and a proper manager in place.

[BoJack Horseman]

Would be delighted if Tony Bloom bought Budgie’s shares and hastened hers and McKinlay’s exits tbh.

The good thing is Starlizard seem to scout players and coaches/managers so having a pipeline of good candidates sourced is crucial.

No more of Savage’s puny Australian and Japanese duds

[Picards Forehead]

They scout coaches as well? now I’m sold.

[pondlife]

Why would he want a share of us though? I get that he probably wants to test his algos on somewhere other than England & Beligium, in a tip top environment like the SPL, and he'll also likely get a decent wedge off each money-making transfer but why Hearts, exactly?

You've got to remember we've got an owenership model that while looks like it's fan-owned, it's certainly not fan run. Devil in the detail obviously but he's a very shrewd individual, who tends to only bet on sure things, where's the sure thing in this 'gamble'?

[King Kebab]

Maybe he thinks his company would benefit from having a club in every league.
We're probably the best club in Scotland to be involved with right now, outside the old firm, and £10 million probably wouldn't be enough to get involved with them. 

I'm just guessing like.

[CritchSmile]

Why would he want a share of us though? I get that he probably wants to test his algos on somewhere other than England & Beligium, in a tip top environment like the SPL, and he'll also likely get a decent wedge off each money-making transfer but why Hearts, exactly?

You've got to remember we've got an owenership model that while looks like it's fan-owned, it's certainly not fan run. Devil in the detail obviously but he's a very shrewd individual, who tends to only bet on sure things, where's the sure thing in this 'gamble'?

The why Hearts question isn’t really a thing because he approached Hibs first.

Outside the OF, Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen are the only clubs worth ploughing money into let’s be honest. Maybe one of the Dundee clubs at a stretch.

Hibs said no. If there wasn’t a route into us he’d prob go to aberdeen next

[1500 Dollars a Day]

Reckon Edinburgh as a city is a big draw and the challenge of taking on the OF - even with his data stuff I doubt you’re ever doing that with a Motherwell or similar but hearts and Aberdeen are best set up to do it if you’re serious about putting the money and effort in.

It doesn’t sound like what they offered hibs is the same as this though, did they not want them as a feeder club? I can’t mind any chat of it being 10m + the scouting.

[Zizou]

Where’s this coming from that he approached Hibs? Have missed it.

[King Kebab]

Where’s this coming from that he approached Hibs? Have missed it.

Mark Donaldson, Listen to the Scarves around the funnel podcast. 
It was maybe a case that he tried with Hearts as well, but there was no way in, and for some reason, now there is.

[pondlife]

Reckon Edinburgh as a city is a big draw and the challenge of taking on the OF - even with his data stuff I doubt you’re ever doing that with a Motherwell or similar but hearts and Aberdeen are best set up to do it if you’re serious about putting the money and effort in.

It doesn’t sound like what they offered hibs is the same as this though, did they not want them as a feeder club? I can’t mind any chat of it being 10m + the scouting.

... and I guess this is what I'm getting at, is it a subtle round-about way of using a UK-based club not subject to FFP to wheel & deal? His Belgian outfit took 5-7 yrs to pay dividends so it may take time should be bite. On the face of it the offer (when it comes lol) seems logical to accept I'm just a wee bit worried that in time we'll get his proverbial fingers up our arse!

[Diego Armando Toblerone]

Where’s this coming from that he approached Hibs? Have missed it.

From what I head on Scarves Around The Funnel, he’s been carrying out due diligence with a few clubs and Hibs weren’t keen as they’d need to empty Gordon & Kinsella.

At no point did it say he was keen on Hibs becoming a feeder club or anything else like it.

If you look at it like buying a house or a car, you do your due diligence and then go for the one that suits best in terms of what you want to do.

Just because you’ve shown interest doesn’t mean you’re definitely making an offer does it?

From what he gets out of his investment, I think he’ll be on for a cut of any future transfer fee or it’ll be performance or bonus related.

For me, it’s a no lose situation. We get a shot of his scouting and performance algorithm kit (Starlizard) and get to see if it works for us, while potentially getting a £10m investment.

If it works and we start signing some class players then it’ll be all good, if it doesn’t work, are we any worse off than we are just now?

[King Kebab]

On a side note (going from the podcast) Liverpool offered the lizard 50 million for the "formula" and he told them to bolt.

[1500 Dollars a Day]

... and I guess this is what I'm getting at, is it a subtle round-about way of using a UK-based club not subject to FFP to wheel & deal?  His Belgian outfit took 5-7 yrs to pay dividends so it may take time should be bite. On the face of it the offer (when it comes lol) seems logical to accept I'm just a wee bit worried that in time we'll get his proverbial fingers up our arse!

Don’t think so, I suppose the good thing is with FOH I’d assume this would need to be voted on by members once the proposal is made?

5-7 years to really kick on isn’t to be sniffed at, I think we need to get away from this idea that we’re only a managerial appointment away from pushing Celtic and rangers, it’s going to take time and continual improvement season on season.

Something I meant to reply to as well when you said were fan owned but not fan run, that’s going to be a positive to a guy like Bloom, he’ll not want any faff. I’d be interested to see a concrete proposal - I’m not against this sort of thing at all but i do have concerns at the same time. If we’re jumping into some sort of football group or aligning ourselves with a multi club investor Brighton would probably be one of my top choices tbh.



I tried finding more about the Brighton/hibs thing but beyond that weird partnership where we actually ended up getting Cochrane and they got nobody I can’t see anything concrete.

[Zizou]

5-7 years we’ll be exactly where we are now and still making terrible signings so my view is what is there to lose by trying something different.

This may not work out but it does appear to be a route to the famous levelling up that Savage always slavered about.

[Konnichiwa You Cunt]

The important question is what he’d want out of Scottish football in general, not what he wants out of Hearts specifically. Don’t really see where there’s worthwhile cash to be made for someone with Bloom’s money unless you’re buying into the OF.

Is it only Brighton and the Belgian club who use the lizard stuff so far? At a guess maybe they’re trying to get it into a few more countries before they sell it, sounds like he’s trying to call it a Lizard investment not a Bloom investment.

[King Kebab]

It will be more than 5-7 years if they persevere with Naismith, the guy needs binned tonight.

[1500 Dollars a Day]

The important question is what he’d want out of Scottish football in general, not what he wants out of Hearts specifically. Don’t really see where there’s worthwhile cash to be made for someone with Bloom’s money unless you’re buying into the OF.

Is it only Brighton and the Belgian club who use the lizard stuff so far? At a guess maybe they’re trying to get it into a few more countries before they sell it, sounds like he’s trying to call it a Lizard investment not a Bloom investment.

I’d be surprised if it’s money he’s after - obv it needs to make financial sense but I think you’re right it’ll be more about developing the scouting system + a challenge that most would say is impossible in challenging the OF.


Although if he’s looking to get this lizard thing out to a mass audience, got to ask how beneficial it will be to hertz in the long term if everyone has it.

[King Kebab]

If he does get involved with Hearts, I hope he states that the £10 million is for players/coaching staff and not an extension to the hotel.
It would take us 2 days to spunk that on non football things.

[Zizou]

Achieving something in Scotland would be a great project for someone with deep pockets like.

It’s obviously about show casing the software but the mad gambler in him will be excited about the challenge surely.