Sad that is has all come to this
Diane Laird is like every Hibs fan, going through all the emotions this week and trying to make sense of it all.  She has found that thanks to the Hibs.net message board, she is far from alone.....

YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE HAD your head buried well and truly in the proverbial sand pit this week not to have formed some sort of initial reaction to the somewhat controversial proposals put forward by board members of both capital clubs.

Wherever you were and whatever you were doing when the news broke, may not be a part of the story you'll pass on to your grandchildren, but like the Mercer debacle you'll certainly remember the views you held, the people you stood shoulder to shoulder with and the fact that you probably spent even more time than ever perusing this website and its' by now infamous message board.

You will have formed opinions, only to have them quashed.  You will have climbed from one side of the fence to the other and on occasions sat on that fence waiting to see if you're pushed.  An article here or a posting there, a comment in the pub from a well meaning Hibby and apathy from others who claim they've swallowed too much over recent years to give a damn anymore, all work their way under your skin. Some things will remain there gnawing away, others will have had no affect whatsoever. You'll think of something that feels important to you only to have it shot down in flames as not being relevant at this time.  You'll be accused of not being a true supporter cause you're already threatening to boycott your season ticket or indeed the whole caboodle!  Some folks may even take time out to pat you on the back and say well done to you for moving them with your words.

This field of dreams will never die (hibs.net)

Lets talk about me for a minute. 

Okay I'm not your stereotypical Hibs fan. I'm 40, female, mother, wife, worker.  But in common with every other Hibs fan I am absolutely passionate about my beloved Hibees. I've read posting after posting this week, I've followed links to newspaper articles and even ran home so as not to miss Stu's appearance on television. I've felt emotions ranging from disapproval, fear, excitement, doubt, praise, anger, laughter.... but the most overwhelming feeling, and one that has run concurrently with all the others is.... sadness.  Sadness at the current state of my club, both on and off the park. Sadness that at some point someone somewhere stood up and said "Gentlemen, I have an idea!!" Even greater sadness that the idea needed to be listened to.

On my way home from work today, I took a leaf out of Simar's book and detoured round by ER.  I parked the car, turned off the radio and listened.  I listened to my heart and I listened to my head. I thought about Turnbull's Tornadoes and the Famous Five. Of Sauzee, Latapy, Zitelli and Luna. Of Sunshine on Leith, the slope, of 5 minute silences and I even thought of Alex McLeish!  Then someone's words began to haunt me.  Not words from a famous Hibee or a weel kent journalist; not even the words of some of the fine writers that have graced these pages recently. But the words of a not so famous Hearts fan.  Our very own PiltonJohnny, who said on the Hibs.net message board: "Yes it will be gut wrenching for Hearts to vacate Tynecastle and for Hibs to leave Easter Road but, I firmly believe at this moment in time it is the only option for two famous football clubs to survive and hopefully flourish and that once again there will be and era in Scottish football like that from 1947-1962 when the league championship flag came to Edinburgh five times, the league cup four times and the Scottish Cup once. A lot say that this is a pipe dream due to the strength of Celtic and Rangers, Me I say I still believe it can happen again. Only time will tell but I hope the Simon Marriot and the John Findlay of the future are writing about it."

Whatever emotional roller coaster you find yourself on this week, next week and in the weeks and months to come, never forget that Hibernian FC is in our hearts and our blood.  It's okay to express your opinion, it's even better to listen to others give theirs. It's even okay to have a laugh or a greet about it all.

And at some point in the future we can all be grateful that a Simon Marriot or a John Findlay helped us get there.