Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Brighton owner Tony Bloom is in talks with Hearts over a potential recruitment link-up Gary Mackay is intrigued by Brighton owner Tony Bloom's investment interest in Hearts, but believes fans would face a "really difficult decision" over granting a minority stake in the club. Hearts are in talks with the 54-year-old Englishman over a multi-million-pound deal to utilise the entrepreneur's analytical company for player recruitment. The fact Mackay's former Hearts team-mate David Weir works under Bloom as Brighton's technical director gives the 60-year-old reassurance that the mooted deal may be worth pursuing. "I think we have to be open-minded about it," said Mackay, who is Hearts' record appearance holder. "There are various pros and cons for me but the one big pro is that Davie Weir is down at Brighton and somebody that both myself and Gary Locke know well. I have huge respect for Davie and what his club have done. "Brighton's credibility as a well-run club is second to none so that gives you a bit reassurance. In principle, because of the Davie Weir connection and because of the club it is and how well they have punched above their weight for so many years under Tony Bloom, I am quite enthusiastic about it." Mackay feels there are still plenty of questions that will need to be answered before Jambos supporters - who effectively own the club through the 8,000-strong Foundation of Hearts - can fully get behind it. "When you look at Moises Caicedo, who came into Brighton for £4m and was moved on for nearly £100m, you think how does that model work for Hearts?" said Mackay. "What will we be able to spend within this deal because we don't have £4m to take a chance on a player like Brighton do? Will we still be bringing players in for next to nothing and then looking to make £4-5m in a watered-down version of what Brighton are doing? "What expectations will Tony Bloom have from this deal? Are they wanting anything out of this deal or are they just thinking Davie Weir knows the club, Heart of Midlothian are a brilliantly-run football club? "I think it's great they've identified Hearts but to sell a stake in the club, although I wouldn't mind sitting with a board of directors to discuss it, I wouldn't want to be the one that had to make the ultimate decision because it would be a really difficult decision to make."
Greg Playfair Fan writer Nobody expected Hearts to visit Celtic Park last Saturday and pull up any trees. However, being rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership in mid-September is not what even the most fervent Hibee would have predicted at the start of the season. That's us now hit double figures in competitive games without a victory - since 11 May against Dundee at Tynecastle. There's been plenty of debate and talk about what has gone wrong, but the concerning part is we're not seeing much to cling on to and be optimistic about. Sure, you can point to it being 0-0 at half-time away to the champions and having a penalty overturned by VAR. For me, it's a penalty. You can talk about proximity of the shot, but you can't say Liam Scales' arm is in a natural position. Is it really a 'clear and obvious error' from the on-field referee? In terms of the James Penrice one, I think it's a penalty going by what we’ve seen given following the introduction of VAR in Scotland. However, the Scottish FA have made a rod for their own back with their mandate to punish less, like Scales' one and Connor Barron at Tynecastle. Once that penalty award goes against us, you could see the wind was knocked out of the Hearts players' sails and some would have wanted the game to have ended there. I maintain that some players' mentalities should be questioned. Naismith is under growing pressure from Hearts supporters and we've got another tough away fixture at St Mirren on Saturday. If you're being optimistic and like good omens, then our last away victory came in Paisley on 6 April. Sticking with the omens theme, Naismith needs to ditch the navy hoodie he has been sporting for seven straight defeats. If that makes an outing at Paisley, put your mortgage on a Buddies victory. All joking aside, he needs a positive result this weekend. You might get a different picture from the Hearts board, but third place is beyond our grasp after five league games due to Aberdeen's excellent start. It's somewhat fitting that professional gambler and Brighton owner Tony Bloom is interested in acquiring a minority stake in Hearts as the board are throwing all their chips behind Naismith.
Hearts have held talks with Brighton owner Tony Bloom that could lead to the Tynecastle outfit utilising the entrepreneur's analytical company for player recruitment. Discussions have been taking place since the early part of 2024 and if an agreement is reached it would lead to Bloom becoming a minority shareholder at Hearts and investing a multi-million pound amount. Majority shareholders the Foundation of Hearts would need to vote through their agreement, with a 90% threshold required. Bloom's company has been utilised by the Premier League club and Belgium's Union Saints-Gilloise. What do you make of the potential investment? Can Bloom's expertise only benefit Hearts or are there pitfalls? Give us your thoughts here, external
In: Malachi Boateng, midfielder (Crystal Palace, undisclosed); Musa Drammeh, forward (Sevilla); Yan Dhanda, midfielder (Ross County); Blair Spittal, midfielder (Motherwell); James Penrice, defender (Livingston); Daniel Oyegoke, defender (Bradford City, undisclosed); Kenneth Vargas, forward (Herediano, loan to permanent); Ryan Fulton, goalkeeper (Hamilton Academical); Jamie MacDonald, goalkeeper (Greenock Morton). Loan in: Andres Salazar, defender (Atletico Nacional); Gerald Taylor, defender (Deportivo Saprissa). Out: Kyosuke Tagawa, forward (Kashima Antlers, undisclosed); Alex Cochrane, defender (Birmingham City, undisclosed); Toby Sibbick, defender (Wigan Athletic, undisclosed); Makenzie Kirk, forward (St Johnstone, undisclosed); Nathaniel Atkinson, defender (Melbourne City); Andy Halliday, midfielder (Motherwell, loan to permanent); Rocco Friel, defender (Queens Park Rangers, undisclosed); Michael McGovern, goalkeeper (retired); Callum Flatman, defender (Kelty Hearts); Murray Thomas, forward (Kelty Hearts); Peter Haring, midfielder; . Loan ended: Dexter Lembikisa, defender (Wolverhampton Wanderers); Scott Fraser, midfielder (Charlton Athletic). Loan out: Lewis Neilson, defender (St Johnstone); Aidan Denholm, midfielder (Ross County); Harry Stone, goalkeeper (Ayr United); Liam McFarlane, goalkeeper (East Fife). Read the Scottish Premiership ins & outs in full here.
Image source, SNS Australia international Nathaniel Atkinson has left Hearts to join A-League side Melbourne City on a permanent deal. Hearts signed the 25-year-old from Melbourne City in January 2022, but he returns to his homeland having not featured for the Tynecastle club this season. In total, Atkinson made 72 appearances for Hearts, scoring three goals.
Media caption, Highlights: Celtic 2-0 Hearts
We asked for your views on Hearts 2-0 defeat against Celtic. Here's what some of you said: David: Another defeat (though not a surprise). Bottom of the league. Can't score goals. Can't stop conceding goals. Two of our most creative players, Yan Dhanda and Blair Spittal reduced to bit part players. No recognition that another experienced striker was an absolute necessity for the start of the season. Sorry times at Tynecastle. Chris: It's another game we never looked like scoring. The football is insipid and the players don't look nervous any more, they just looked resigned to losing. VAR is used for obvious errors, so we were told, so did the referee make an obvious error in giving us a penalty from an incident he viewed five yards away? I'm over it. Mike: A strong defensive performance until the penalty. Not expecting much against Celtic away. Must give Steven Naismith much more time. The return of Beni Baningime gave more composure in the midfield. Not sure how Jorge Grant gets into the team ahead of Spittal, Dhanda, Cammy Devlin etc. I’m confident we will finish in the top-six. Too many doomsayers wanting to change the manager, for who? Ian: Having seen both penalty incidents on TV, I think the correct decisions were made on both occasions. If we remain without a win in our next games, Naismith has to go with someone outside the club being appointed. Jim: The way Celtic are playing losing 2-0 to them ironically is an improvement on Hearts, I thought they'd score more. Hearts have a fight on their hands this season but if the manager can decide on a stable line-up and stop them looking as though they've never met their teammates maybe they might do something against a good Paisley side. Sinx: Naismith needs to be given more time. This Hearts squad is full of talent and I can see they will come good soon. The penalty award for Celtic was a handball but if the SFA go on YouTube to explain why Hearts didn't get a penalty v Rangers on opening day, then I can’t see the difference between that and James Penrice's handball - double standards! Alan H: Naismith has to go. Have to give a new manager the chance to get the team ready for Europe in October. No more waiting from the bosses and the fans. Alan: Sitting at the foot of the table is unacceptable for any team in the Premiership, let alone Scotland's third force, but let's get a bit of perspective here - every team outside the Old Firm struggle with balancing European and domestic fixture demands. There's plenty time, so stick with Naismith, give him a proper shot at this and he'll come good.
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Celtic have won their last 11 games in the Premiership - they are now just one game off equalling their 12 game winning streak from January to April last year.
Meanwhile Hearts have lost their last four games in the Premiership - leaving them just one match short of equalling their losing streak from March last year.
Celtic have now kept a clean sheet in each of their last five Premiership outings.
Hearts attempted seven shots in this games - their lowest total in the Premiership this season.
Media caption, 'If one is a pen, both should be pens' - Steven Naismith Heart of Midlothian head coach Steven Naismith is left frustrated by the two VAR penalty calls in his side's 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park.
Celtic continued their 100% start to the season as the champions and Hearts experienced contrasting fortunes with VAR. The visitors had a first-half penalty award overturned after Lawrence Shankland's header came off Liam Scales' arm. And, after the break, Nicolas Kuhn's cross hit James Penrice's hand and the review resulted in record signing Arne Engels scoring his first Celtic goal from the spot. Luke McCowan also opened his Celtic account with a late strike, confirming Hearts slipped a point adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. Were you in attendance in the away end or following from home? Click here, external to have your say on the match.
Hearts head coach Steven Naismith spoke after the 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park, where his side were awarded a penalty that was overturned by VAR before VAR awarded the hosts a spot-kick from which they scored. And he said: "The key moments in the game are the penalties. For me, they're both in the same camp. "If one's given, they should be given. If one's not given, the other one shouldn't be. They both hit the hand. "These moments are big in these games. The luck was against us."
BBC Scotland's Andy Campbell Hearts head coach Steven Naismith has been criticised this season for flitting between formations but, tactically, he made the right calls for the trip to Glasgow. The 3-5-2 formation pitched Lawrence Shankland and Kenneth Vargas, later replaced by Musa Drammeh, as the attacking outlets and they battled hard to get their team up the park. They had to make the most of set pieces and from one, Shankland's header was kept out by Schmeichel. A long-range effort by Shankland effort had the keeper diving but it always looked like a comfortable save for the Dane. But a late Drammeh chance could have put a completely different complexion on the game and their start to the season. A league trip to St Mirren next Saturday, while other clubs are on League Cup duty, at least gives Hearts the chance to make up some ground.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon made some fine saves as Hearts were beaten by his former club Celtic. Image source, SNS Image caption, Craig Gordon was denied a clean sheet at Celtic Park sjhagkjsafsg
Arne Engels makes his first Celtic start after featuring as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Rangers before the international break. The Belgium midfielder replaces Paulo Bernardo, who is on the bench. Defender Auston Trusty, who joined from Sheffield United before the transfer deadline, is also among the substitutes. Three changes for Hearts. Gerald Taylor replaces the ill Frankie Kent while Blair Spittal and Yutaro Oda are benched in favour of Kye Rowles and Beni Baningime. Image source, SNS Image caption, Arne Engels became a senior Belgium international during the break
Image source, SNS Celtic have a full squad, with several players overcoming issues that affected their international duties. Hearts midfielder Beni Baningime is set to be in the squad for the first time this season after recovering from a knee injury but Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) remains sidelined.
Image source, SNS Cammy Devlin insists Hearts' dismal start to the season did not affect his decision to sign a new contract with the club. Devlin - who signed for Hearts in 2021 - has penned a new two-year deal at Tynecastle, with his previous contract set to expire at the end of this season. Steven Naismith's side are yet to win in all competitions this season, and have lost their last six outings, with both head coach and players coming under fire from fans and pundits alike. "No, definitely not," said Devlin when asked if Hearts' poor form had caused any doubts about committing his future to the club. "The talks started over the summer but these things take time. "You've just got to talk and then at the same time I was kind of saying 'I just want to focus on winning a game of football'. But it's done now and there was no doubt in my mind. "I'll work as hard as I possibly can and that will take me wherever in football, but I'm in a very fortunate position to be sitting here today." Hearts travel to Celtic on Saturday looking to end their winless run, with the champions yet to drop a point and yet to concede in the league. "I think even if you've won five in a row, it's still such a tough place to go," Devlin said. "You saw in the Old Firm game before the international break just how good they are at the moment. "We haven't been good enough in recent games to get results but when you play for Hearts you've got to stand up and be counted. "We know we're a good team, we went there last year and kept a clean sheet and won, and we beat them at home. We know we can do it. It's just about turning up on the day and making it happen." Devlin says he understands the discontent among the Hearts fanbase, but insists it is the players' responsibility to get them back on side. "The support is massive and they're paying their hard-earned money to come every single week," he said. "I'm sure when we look into that small corner at Celtic Park they'll be there singing. "We need to give them something to cheer about. The management is really good and it's hard when they get scrutiny and we get scrutiny, but we started bad last season and we turned it round and came good. "We're fully behind the management staff, that's not in question. It's about us as players taking responsibility."
Image source, SNS Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin has signed a new contract with the club, keeping him at Tynecastle until the summer of 2026. The 26-year-old Australia international signed for Hearts in 2021 from A-League side Newcastle Jets and has gone on to make 109 appearances, scoring six goals. Devlin's deal was due to expire next summer and head coach Steven Naismith said: "I'm really happy that Cammy has committed himself to the club. "Cammy's story should be an inspiring one to younger players; a guy who came halfway across the world, established himself as a top player in a completely new environment, gained international recognition and went to a World Cup. "He gives his all in training and in matches, and has a real desire to improve himself and the team. "His character is second to none and I'm delighted that he will continue to be part of this side for the next two years."
What a difference a few weeks make in football. Hearts had gone into the new season having strolled to a third-place finish and with the promise of consolidation as Steven Naismith made his moves to strengthen the squad early in the summer transfer market. In contrast, champions Celtic spent much of the summer being berated by their fans for their lack of activity while waiting for the almost inevitable departure of star midfielder Matt O'Riley. However, a late flurry of activity on the back of a record sale to Brighton and Hearts on Saturday face the prospect of meeting a side seeking their sixth consecutive win while poised to hand a first start to their own record signing. As Arne Engels quickly followed his arrival from Augsburg by celebrating his 21st birthday with a first cap for Belgium, Naismith was having to admit his own summer arrivals needed more time to adapt to the pressure of playing for a bigger club than those for whom they had played previously. The Tynecastle head coach is facing the heat after suffering six defeats in a row - just one point from their opening four league games being Hearts' poorest start to a top-flight campaign in the 21st century. Talisman Lawrence Shankland embodies the general malaise, the Scotland striker having failed to score this season despite having the most shots of any player in the Premiership. Hardly the ideal time to be visiting a side who have only conceded once this season - in a 3-1 League Cup win over Hibernian - and who are one game away from matching the feat of five opening league games without losing a goal achieved only once before - under Willie Maley in 1906-07. Naismith proved he could conjure upsets against Brendan Rodgers' side with two wins out of four meetings last season, including a 2-0 win at Celtic Park in December. Meanwhile, Shankland's six goals against Celtic in the league since the start of the 2022-23 are as many as he has against any other opponent. What manager and captain would give for a repeat on Saturday. Read all the weekend's Premiership picks
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