I'm going a shade of Hibs green!
Diane Laird missed all the fun the weekend and has come back to find two friends 'gone'....

"THERE'S NOWT AS QUEER AS FOLK" THE SAYING USUALLY GOES" but this week I am officially renaming it to “THERE’S NOWT AS QUEER AS HIBS FANS!!!!!”  My goodness, gracious me, what is the matter with you all? My Mum used to say to me that I could start a fight in an empty room but it’s well seen she didn’t have a hibs.net messageboard to compare me to. 

I go away for a nice quiet weekend to Newcastle with my pals and while I’m there the breaking news is that John Campbell and Stuart Crowther are standing down from Hibs.net to take over the running of the official club site.  At the time of writing there are 157 replies and three and half thousand views of a  thread entitled “ Messrs. Crowther and Campbell to run the official Hibs site?” and started innocently enough by yozza.  Of those that have taken the trouble to reply there are many and varied reasons for and against both editors either staying with, or removing themselves completely and no longer contributing to the many debates and front page articles that they have both been an integral part of during their time on this site.  Not usually one to miss contributing my tuppence worth I chose not to post a knee jerk reaction, which mine would have been, until I’d read the whole post.  I then read the beginnings of another thread that was intended to congratulate John and Stu and wish them all the best.  I’ve still not added to that either and there could be many reasons for this but knowing me the way I do the first of those I have to consider is whether or not it’s because I’m envious of what they have achieved?  The answer to that is yes, I am envious of them both and I don’t mind admitting it.  It’s damn fine recognition by the club of what they are both capable of and one that the club would have been foolish to pass up on.  The official site doesn’t even compare to the popularity of sites such as this and that in itself is a sin.  When I first got access to the Internet at home, I almost immediately logged on to the official site and hung around it for about five minutes.  I haven’t been near it for months now as there was never anything I could read there that I couldn’t read about here, and in more detail. 

But I am more than just envious, I’m disappointed and I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t tell you why.  When John and Stu accepted the keys to the offishul hoose, it was originally intended that they would still keep an active role as editors of this site, and if that had still been the case there’s no one that would have been more chuffed than yours truly!  However, call it caving under pressure or a well thought out decision, but they have both now chosen to stand down from any involvement with the running of this site and that is what really disappoints me.  During the Straiton affair, Hibs.net faced accusations from all corners accusing its’ editors of fence sitting and not showing their cards.  Certain editors and regular contributors were lambasted for adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach but to their credit, they rode that particular storm and stuck to their principles, one of which has been that the editors do not speak or write on behalf of the users of Hibs.net (we are all clever and/or ugly enough to do that by ourselves) but for themselves as Hibs fans. 

Rod Petrie - Set for a rough ride at AGM tonight?

I’m not attempting to over-hype this issue but I do feel that both John and Stu have made the wrong decision… for them.  All of us as readers, users or contributors will probably get used to them not being around but I bet the both of them will miss it more!  It’s been a pretty integral part of both their lives and the fact that one or both of them is almost always logged on during the hours of 6am to 1am is proof enough of that.  A Hibs fans’ website without the “Two Ronnie’s” just seems too much to contemplate.  I mean who’s going to be the cause (or brunt) of many a debate if Stu’s away and who’s going to be the calming influence that has been (and I love you all) John? But as I said, we’ll get used to it and fingers crossed they do too.  And it must be a great feeling to be handed that responsibility and all that it brings.  There will be times when the ‘perks’ of the job will make it all that more enjoyable but lets not kid ourselves here, there are bound to be times when they’ll both feel like banging their heads off the nearest brick wall. (Cue the automatic picture that brings!) So good luck to you both guys, me thinks you’re bloody well going to need it!!!!!

Right, down to important issues.  I was in Newcastle at the weekend and although I was the epitome of innocence, all I can tell you about it is that I hate shopping, I love drinking red wine with pizza and Villa held Newcastle to a 1-1 draw.  Everything else is not for public consumption, but suffice to say I’ve never been so gobsmacked at some of the antics that visitors and locals alike get up to on a Saturday night down Tyne and Wear way. As for me, the most activity I got was my jaw dropping exercises at the ‘non-clothes’ fashion of the young female partygoers! So a word to the wise, if you’re a woman contemplating a weekend end away, lose weight and have a face lift and tummy tuck, and if you’re a bloke, well just practice saying “Whey hey man”!!!!

Kacking, as you will know, does tend to flow from this unique gob of mine and it will be put to its usual good use this coming Thursday for me and Campbell’s weekly Kack in the Shack.  Today I bring you another Hibs.net exclusive and it’s a biggie!  It’s no coincidence that Thursday evening also sees the city hosting the MTV Europe Music Awards and so John and I will be broadcasting live from a secret location down by the North side of the city.  During the show we hope to feature our usual blend of fine music and witty chat, chosen by you the listener of course, but in addition, I can confirm that Christina Aguilera will also be on our show.  How good is that? I will, of course, have to sedate John in advance and plough myself with enough red wine so that I think I look as good as her and I may even consider ploughing John with sufficient supplies so that he thinks I look as good as her too! 

Speaking of beer goggles, I’d just like to point out that the picture of John on yesterdays front page showed eye attire that only those long in the tooth with this web site will remember John wearing in the dim and distant past.  If you were unlucky enough to see the picture and are still in shock I can confirm they are not John’s beer goggles,  but are in fact a pair of welders glasses he bought because nobody told him to go to Specsavers!!!!!!

Stephen Dobbie once again showed why a number of Rangers fans were disappointed in him being allowed to leave for Hibs in the summer by banging in 4 goals against a poor Dundee Under 21 side at Easter Road last night.  Along with Steven Fletcher, Steven Whittaker and a brace from Stuart Hogg in the dying minutes after coming off the bench saw Hibs win 8-1.  While Jarkko Wiss looked a little out of place at times, Canadian international Paul Fenwick put in another good shift at the heart of the Hibs defence although he didn't have the hardest of tasks in last night's game.

Meanwhile, Hibs shareholders will find out this evening what plans the club has for moving forward over the coming months and years.  Some details from the club's outline business plan will be presented at the meeting by Chairman Ken Lewandowski and Managing Director Rod Petrie.  Other ideas generated via the Listening Groups during the Straiton consultation process may also be aired by the board as possible future actions to help bring the support and board back together.  Full details will of course be available on Hibs.net as soon as possible afterwards.