Ayr snatch crucial away win at Thistle
A Jamie Murphy header proved to be the difference in an attritional first leg at Firhill which saw nine yellow cards produced. Having ceded possession and with the momentum going against them, the striker produced a deft header to give his side the advantage that would come to be the only goal of the game. Despite the low scoring affair, there was no shortage of action on the night as Nick McAllister was eventually forced off with a head injury which had occurred a few minutes earler after Thistle captain Brian Graham intervened to ask that the player be removed. The interruption would set the tone for a game that seemed to have more stoppages than completed passes, both teams forced to send the ball long to find joy. Graham would have opportunities in the opening half, the first header denied by the palm of the acrobatic Clarke whilst the second sailed past the Ayr keeper’s post. Looking as if a draw would suffice, the visitors aimed to wind down the clock and mount their attacks on home turf. However Scott Brown was instead able to leave with what could prove to be a decisive win for the side. Ayr did have chances prior to the goal, in an attack beginning with Scott McMann the men in white found themselves scything through the middle of their opponents before George Oakley blasted his attempt wide. Looking to the heavens for answers, Graham would see his and Thistle’s final attempt at rescuing something flash wide. Line-ups: Partick Thistle: Mitchell, O’Reilly, Ashcroft, McBeth, Megwa, Turner, Bannigan, Fitzpatrick (Stanway 84), Crawford (Ablade 61), Lawless, Graham (c) Unused subs: Budinauckas, Falconer, Lockhart, Mackenzie Booked: Fitzpatrick, Turner, Crawford, Graham, O’Reilly Ayr United: Clarke, McMann, Agbaire, McAllister (Watret 10), Reading, Rus, Dempsey (c), McKenzie, Murphy (Henderson 76), Oakley (Main 77), McLennan Unused subs: Hastie, Mutch, Walker Goals: Murphy (55) Booked: Oakley, Agbaire, Clarke Attendance: 5,250
EPL Power Player Eyes Move into Scottish Football with £10m Hearts Deal
Premier League influence could soon reach into Scottish football as Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom edges closer to securing a minority stake in Heart of Midlothian. The proposed £9.86 million investment from the British entrepreneur would mark a significant development for the Edinburgh club—if approved by its fan-ownership body, Foundation of Hearts (FoH). After more than a year of private negotiations, the deal now hinges on a vote by over 8,000 FoH members. If a simple majority supports the move, Bloom would acquire a 29 per cent stake in Hearts through the issuance of new, non-voting shares. While this would not grant him any say in the club’s decision-making processes, the deal would entitle him to appoint a representative to the Tynecastle board, taking the total number of directors to eight. Bloom’s reputation as one of football’s most analytical minds precedes him. Alongside his stewardship of Premier League side Brighton, he also holds a stake in Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. His recruitment firm, Jamestown Analytics, has already begun working with Hearts, applying cutting-edge data techniques to modernise the club’s player and coaching recruitment strategy. His investment would bring significant financial injection and strategic expertise, but it also raises questions over the future of the club’s leadership. It remains unclear whether current CEO Andrew McKinlay will remain in post or what role Ann Budge, Hearts’ influential chairwoman, would play going forward. While Bloom wouldn’t be involved in day-to-day operations, Hearts would gain direct access to his network of football experts and innovative analytical systems. For some supporters, this represents a bold step into modern footballing infrastructure; for others, the idea of outside influence—even with non-voting rights—marks a shift in the club’s identity as a fan-owned institution. The vote is now open. Its outcome could mark the beginning of a new era at Tynecastle—one that brings Premier League connections and continental insight to Gorgie.