The CEO spoke following the club’s AGM at Tynecastle yesterday.
Hearts head to Celtic Park for a top of the table clash with the reigning Scottish Premiership champions on Sunday afternoon.
In what will be Wilfried Nancy’s first game in charge, the Hoops could well leapfrog their rivals at the summit, and also boast a game in hand.
Derek McInnes’ men were nine points clear not so long ago. However, a blip in form has seen the Jambos win just one of their last seven.
Tony Bloom’s investment has already been beneficial to the club with the help of his Jamestown Analytics.
“I’ve heard a lot of chat that this season’s our big chance to win the league and all this stuff because Rangers and Celtic aren’t as good, and that to me is really interesting,” McKinlay said. “People have not been listening to what we’ve been saying.
“We expect to get better and better and better and better. We are surprised this year where we sit.
“We don’t see this as a one-off. Tony said he expects to win the league within the next 10 years.
“He might have adjusted that, I’m not sure, but this is a long-term project to make us, a club and a team, that can compete year on year with Rangers and Celtic.”