Don't give them an excuse!
Keith Small returns from the other side of the world to take issue with the press reporting of Hibs....

SO EVERYTHING IS ROSY ONCE MORE DOWN EASTER ROAD WAY AGAIN? Well, perhaps this is something of an exaggeration, but after the last couple of weeks things are starting to look up. If I can paraphrase our manager, there is a spot of light at the end of the tunnel, it may not be huge, but it is there.

Straiton has been finally put to bed, and I must admit that I underestimated the powers at be. They stated that they would ask us fans about the move, and they appear to have done just that, so credit where credit is due. The team, while not by any means the finished article look to be on the right track. The defence is still fragile at times, but the midfield and attack look like they are becoming a potent offensive unit, and the goalkeeper looks a very good find.

But of course, these apparent positives have been conspicuous only in their absence in some of the national newspapers. Oh no, we could not expect the media ‘personalities’ to descend from their Old Firm high horse and indulge us ‘provincial’ fans on two occasions in as many months! That would not do, where would the hordes of Old Firm knuckle-draggers get their daily fix of non-stories with banner headlines and two page spreads? Or their signing targets that will definitely sign in the transfer window, as long as their offer from the United Arab Emirates falls through and no English club is interested?

Williamson - contract talks still making the papers! (sns)

The Scottish football press gang only lowered themselves to covering Hibernian so that they could all get a shot of putting the boot in. And not content with having a go at the board over the Williamson contract leak, some of them used the opportunity to have a go at us the fans at the same time.

Now I know a certain Sunday Mail writer must have found it difficult to not, for once, whinge about how unfair the nasty old SPL is too poor old downtrodden Falkirk. But did he really need to launch into a scathing attack on Hibernian fans? So Hibernians romanticise about the past, and want their team to play attractive attacking football. So they hold Franck Sauzee in very high regard, so what? What does it have to do with him how Hibernians see their club?

Fair enough, he can attack the board over Bobby’s contract. But to have a go at Hibs fans who don’t like Williamson or want him as manager (of whom I don’t believe there are as many as they like to try and make out, and I am certainly not one), is ridiculous. Why? Because to condescend from on high to people who he obviously does not understand, on a subject that he obviously is looking at from the outside, or to be more specific somewhere down the M8, is nothing more than an incredibly arrogant act. But then again, is this not exactly what we ‘provincial’ fans have come to expect from the Old Firm-centric media?

Even the quality newspapers let the negative press surrounding Hibernian to cloud their views and permeate into their ‘balanced’ reports. While writing about Hibernian’s 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, one Scotland on Sunday reporter made the ridiculous statement that if Hibs had not been two goals in front, who knows how the game might have gone! Of course, and if her mum had been a man she’d be her dad! The fact that Hibs were two goals in front and cruising for most of the game seemed to have got lost amongst the gloom. 

So without attempting to create a Celtic-style persecution complex (this one is real anyway!), it seems that while, to use a well worn cliché, the vultures are circling over the Holy Ground looking to swoop down yet again, all Hibernians must stick together and get back to supporting our team, starting at home to Dundee United on Saturday. Because if vultures are only associated with death and decay, we will have to show them all that Hibernian FC are very much alive.

Meanwhile, the Hibs board gave an outline on it's business plans for the next few years.  A new campaign is to be launched shortly with representatives from Hibs.net, Hibeesbounce, The Hibernian Supporters Association and ERIN Trust all assisting prominent Hibs fans to take the club forward.  Full details will be provided in a separate article later today.

Bobby Williamson continues to talk to Hibs with regards to his current contract details.  Although no agreement has yet been reached, Hibs.net understands that the talks are going well and that an agreement could be reached within the next couple of weeks, something that will allow everyone at the club to focus on the bigger issues that will be addressed over the coming weeks and months.