No team outside Celtic or Rangers has won the Scottish top flight in 40 years, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen champions in 1984-85.
And Sheridan added: “£9m or £10m. I don’t think that’s going to challenge Celtic or Rangers. Celtic could go and buy, and I would imagine they probably will, one player in a transfer in the region of that.
“It might elevate Hearts above the rest of the pack but I don’t think it’s enough to challenge the [top] two, really.”
Last season, Brighton finished eighth in the Premier League, just missing out on Europe. Hearts were seventh in the Scottish Premiership, having been third in the previous campaign.
“Brighton’s model was, probably similar to Brentford’s, getting players at bargain prices,” said ex-Republic of Ireland international Sheridan, who is now with Brechin City.
“They get players who are unheard of. At what stage in the pecking order do Hearts come into it?
“Do Hearts get the players that Brighton don’t want? Which ones are Hearts getting?”
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