Think the poster was talking about making overpayments on the loan to STF
Why would we do that? We need to keep increasing the quality of the team as much as possible to ensure that supporters want to keep coming to watch in (modern day) record numbers. The info around this is a bit vague but I would be very disappointed if Hibs No.1 priority is anything other than to keep this virtuous circle going.
You can look at it a couple of ways I suppose.
It could be argued that when we are doing well and have near record turnover then it’s prudent to pay down debt (even interest free) at a higher rate. You build in a buffer for when things are maybe not so rosy in the future.
As our financial performance is directly related to our footballing performance then there is no certainty that we will continue to have as much cash coming in.
Either way I trust the board to do what they see as best for the long term.
So a wee bit in the black and monies from Europe to be added in for next years accounts, all in all a healthy club going in the right direction both on and off the pitch.
I hear what you are saying.
However, relegation played havoc with the club’s finances. If Hibs can maintain a level of consistency (for example, top 6 finishes as an absolute minimum for a number of seasons) it will have a positive cumulative effect.
TV money, commercial revenue etc would all be up, and perhaps we would feel the benefit from one off transfer fees etc.
Given that the debt is interest free (and cash in the bank still gains interest, albeit minimal), I don't see any advantage in repaying the debt in advance of what was agreed.
Unless they are trying to bring forward the day when the Club is totally debt free and control is passed to the new issue share holders.
I know there would be nothing stopping the payments continuing after control was passed, but I think a debt free Club would be far more attractive for any perspective group looking to take control in conjunction with HSL of course.
If its true that we did overpay our repayment to STF then this would be my take on it as well. If the history of football, never mind this club, tells us anything its that nothing lasts forever and I can see the prudence in Hibs reducing the club's debt while the money is there to do so. I wouldn't want to see us do so at the expense of the team, but if a decent balance can be found then I wouldn't be too down on the club for taking what could be a sensible approach in the long run.
What worries me is the large number of ST holders who seem to be missing at every home game. E.G. The official crowd on Saturday was given as over 16,500 but I doubt it was any more than 15,000 in reality. This has been a common theme over the season so far and my question is, if these folk aren't turning up after buying a season ticket ( and I'm talking about the east here, not the FF lower ) then what guarantee is there that they will renew for next season?
I have a feeling that Hibs are looking at this with the same thought in mind and are far from convinced that this seasons ST sales will be matched next year, never mind exceeded. As others have pointed out, even if they are matched the scope to increase income from ST sales short of a big increase in prices has now become extremely limited and I think that would put making hay while the sun shines in the area of debt reduction at the top of their agenda.
On people not turning up, it’s not the same people every week. At most games, around 10% of season ticket holders can’t make it. That’s the same for all clubs and is perfectly normal. It doesn’t indicate sales are about to drop.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I hope you are right mate. Because the only comparable way to judge ST attendees is by looking at the big English clubs on MOTD rather than our own league it is a bit of a false picture, because most of them can fill empty ST seats with their buy back schemes, something we don't have a big enough demand to do on a regular basis, which means if one of our ST holders is a no show the seat remains empty.
So long as we maintain a decent top 3 challenge and do well in the Scottish cup the proof of the pudding will be when next seasons ST sales come around. If on the back of another relatively successful season and European qualification we sell less STs then this time then we will have to face the fact that the Scottish cup win feelgood factor was only ever going to be a temporary thing.
I get the feeling that Hibs attitude will be to hope for the feelgood factor to continue, but plan for the possibility that it wont.
I am one of the regular non season ticket none attenders. With my work i only manage 9 home league games this season, last season 8. I've had a season ticket in the East since they put seats in the old East and will continue buying.
HSL - tax efficient investment in The Hibs right? Ie not subject to VAT which is probably why the Hearts fincncial bods played the long game, kept their money instead of lining Vlads/administrators pockets. To then myatery benefit their spondoolies.
We won't know until we see the accounts but personally I can see the appeal of paying off a bit more than we need to. We have invested very well at this point in the first team so we haven't scrimped on that front and we still are posting a profit. I think as some people say it's a good idea to get as much of the debt cleared as quickly as possible while life is great. So that should we ever find ourselves in the cesspit seasons reminiscent of the Calderwood and Fenlon type era then we have that extra cash available to us to try and dig us back into a competitive place.
As some one else said if we were clearly struggling on the park and not putting money into the team then I would have an issue with it.
I honestly never see Hibs going back to the Calderwood/Fenlon days until we need to find loads of money to rebuild the stadium again in 2060 by which time i will be potted heid.
Our debt with STF runs until 2025, I would like to see us pay STF £1 million of the McGinn money which would see us debt free by 2023.
I have massively enjoyed watching the team for the last 3 and a bit seasons. I think most fans will be the same and will continue to buy season tickets in massive numbers next season so long as the present regime remains in place.
I hope you're right. I know we made infrastructure improvements after the Golden Generation which is setting us up well now but you just never know what might happen. For what its worth I agree with you and would like to see us get debt free asap, just as long as it's not to the detriment of the team on the park.
You can get quite a bang for your buck with just a little cash.
The impression i get is that Kamberi cost £100k, Mallan £150k and Horgan £150k.
I suspect we had to chuck £100k to Milligan as a signing on fee.
4 quality players for £500k
I think we will spend the same again next close season on another 4 players to complete the rebuilding job using part of the McGinn money.
Will definitely want to sign Efe up again and McLaren depending on how he plays this season against the transfer fee required. Possibly Bogdan.
A few old favourites will be out of contract and move on with a need to be replaced:
McGregor (retire due to chronic knee injury) Bartlay - getting on and not good enough on the ball for Lennon's liking.
Gray and Stevenson will perhaps get 1 year extensions. Thought Gray was gone but has done well this season.
Lennon will not rest and will leave as soon as things are not moving forward. I really see us being a very good team next season.