TONY BLOOM will not hand title-chasing Hearts more cash in January because UEFA won’t let him.
The Brighton chairman has already invested £10million in the Tynecastle club in return for a 29 per cent stake.
And the Gorgie club’s flying start had led to suggestions he could pump in more money in January to aid their title tilt.
But Bloom’s controlling stake in Belgians Union St Gilloise means he is in no position to do so.
CEO Andrew McKinlay revealed UEFA’s rules concerning dual ownership preclude such a move.
Asked about January signings, he said: “You never say never because you just don’t know what’s going to happen, but (we’re) unlikely to make any significant number of new signings.
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“Everyone knows we’ve got a big squad and we’re more likely ideally, to actually move a few players out, maybe some players that thought they still had an opportunity over this period of time, but maybe come January, decide they need to move elsewhere.
“I think one other thing just to touch upon is that yes, we’ll have the benefit of Jamestown Analytics and that is massively important to allow us to kick on if we do feel we need new players in January or indeed next summer.
“But there’s been some talk about if we’re in a great position, then Tony Bloom will put more money into the club and invest further.
“I think it’s important I just emphasise that Tony’s not actually in a position to do that, he said this himself when he spoke to the Foundation members in August at the beginning of the season, just to do with UEFA rules.
“I just want to make sure people do understand that, but I’m very confident that we will have a squad coming out of January that will allow us to give ourselves the best opportunity as we move through the rest of the season.
“It’s very exciting times and I’m really looking forward to that going forward.”
Hearts already have a deal in place to bring in winger Islam Chesnokov, who will arrive at the club in December.
Record signing Ageu is also close to full fitness after he was hurt during his debut for the club in September.
Derek McInnes’ side currently lead Celtic by five points heading into Sunday’s massive clash at Tynecastle.
And McKinlay, speaking in his quarterly address to fans, admits the club is in a good place.
He said: “I mean it’s impossible not to be delighted with where we are.
“When I started doing these quarterly updates, I always said we’ll do them every quarter, no matter whether we’re doing well or we’re not doing well.
“I think it’s fair to say I’ve had a few in recent times where we’ve not been doing brilliantly and those have been difficult, but I hope I’ve been open and honest with everyone as to where we are and how we’ve been doing.
“So I think it would be wrong of me not to feel pleased with where we are now. We’re not getting carried away.
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“We’re eight league games in, but if you’d said to me, this is where we’d be, then obviously I’d have bitten your hand off.
“Everything is very positive at the moment, and long may that continue.”
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