Hearts Lead as Celtic, Rangers Face Turmoil

Heart of Midlothian, backed by investor Tony Bloom (29% stake), sit top of the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership — having taken an eight-point lead after a 3-1 win over Celtic — and have revived hopes of the first non-Old Firm title since Aberdeen in 1984–85. Both Glasgow giants are in deep turmoil: Rangers sacked Russell Martin and installed Danny Rohl, who began his tenure with a 3-0 Europa League loss to SK Brann, while Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers resigned after a Champions League exit and reported internal clashes with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond. Celtic have appointed Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney as interim managers and produced a 4-0 Parkhead win over Falkirk with Johnny Kenny and Benjamin Nygren among the scorers. Celtic are also coping with a series of injuries to key players (including Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Kelechi Iheanacho), and Rangers continue to suffer long-standing away defensive problems. The combined managerial upheaval, injuries and poor form at Celtic and Rangers have strengthened the perception that Hearts’ form and investment could translate into a genuine title challenge and a historic break in the Old Firm duopoly.