Are Hearts going to break Glasgow’s dominance in the SPL?
Written by Thomas Greaves on 31st January 2026
Hearts have been a revelation so far this season and there is a real chance that they could be the first team in over 40 years to break the Old Firm’s grip on the Scottish Premiership.
The last team to win the league outside the Old Firm, Rangers and Celtic, was Sir Alex Fergusson’s Aberdeen side of 1985.
Could Hearts do the impossible?
Hearts currently sit four points clear of second place Ranger’s and six points clear of holder’s Celtic.
However over the last few seasons there has been growing competition for the Old Firm, Aberdeen had a great season and were in the mist of a title fight themselves until they fell away after Christmas last year.
Why have clubs been unable to end the dominance?
Despite the growing competition, the other teams in the league are still massively disadvantaged, with the Old Firm being so much more financially strong, which allows for them to out buy their opposition.
This is partly because of the finances of European competitions, with Celtic and Rangers making money through the competition which helps them domestically when buying players.
And a problematic circle of power is made in which the Old Firm always qualify for Europe so they always earn more money which causes the gap between Rangers and Celtic to widen.
Since the 2018-19 season the gap between the Old Firm and the rest of the league had been growing, going from 20 points to 42 in the 2022-23 season.
What have Hearts done differently?
Derek McInnes’ Hearts side have had a brilliant season so far and could do the unthinkable.
So far this season Hearts have beaten both Rangers and Celtic twice and have lost only twice in the league all season.
Throughout the season they have been helped by their inform strike force, with Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland both in double figures. While Alexandros Kyziridis has the joint most assists in the league with six.
Even though they have been exceptional, the situation at Rangers and Celtic has helped with the sacking of Brendan Rogers and Wilfred Nancy for Celtic has caused results on the pitch to be inconsistent while the sacking of Russel Martin has caused Rangers to also be on the back foot.
Hearts winning the league would be a miracle and match the miracle of when Leicester City won the Premier League in 2016 and it would give fellow Scottish clubs that they could also take down the Old Firms dominance.
