Hibs club v st pats branch

[oconnors_strip]

Just read this on the bounce, seems like the hibs club (well more like mike Riley) are wanting to ban the St pats branch from the club. This is not the time to start spats





Yesterday the talk of the Steamie at Starks Park was the goings on by Chairman Mike Riley and the Trustees of the Hibernian Supporters Association (HSA) with regards to talk of expulsion of St. Pat's from the tHSA. Details of what has happened, as outlined to St. Pat's members, has been obtained and reproduced below to explain some of the questions asked.

A source close to the Branch said that 'I am told that the Branch Committee are furious that at a time when all Hibs Supporters should be getting behind the team and building bridges with the Club there are those who would rather conduct an ill thought out petty witch hunt.'


A serious situation has arisen over the past period, as eluded to at our last Branch meeting. To recap for those not present, Chairperson Dougie McLeod prior to the end of business and the entrance of our two Turnbull's Tornadoes speakers that night, John Brownlie and John Blackley, informed the 50 members present of a meeting which had taken place along with Branch Secretary Gordon McKinley and the 5 Trustees of the Hibernian Supporters Association/Club a few weeks previously. The meeting was suggested by our Branch Committee in order to explain in a friendly manner the reasoning behind our proposed changes to further modernise and HSA rulebook (see attachment). This was intended to help prevent any misunderstanding at the Hibernian Supporters Association AGM, on Sunday the 5th of April.


Within a fairly short period of discussion HSA Chairperson Mike Riley was accusing our Branch of all sorts and behaving quite frankly in a manner not befitting a person in his position. At one point he reacted to the suggestion by a fellow Trustee that 'some people out there, would like St. Pat's expelled from the Association' by hissing 'and we have the f****** power to do that'. To his credit HSA Treasurer Colin Rich said they could not do that. At another point when we suggested that the right to amend HSA Rules is enshrined in the Rule book he shouted 'Democracy, I will show you f****** democracy at the AGM'. To which Dougie said that he was acting like a bully and Gordon said that neither he, Dougie nor St. Patrick's Branch members would be bullied by him. The swearing continued and Gordon asked that he refrain from doing so twice. He said that he did not have to f****** listen to this and stormed out of the meeting.


The other four Trustees did not follow him out and continued to have a calm, reasoned meeting where on some items we agreed to disagree.


Whilst we were having our very successful Branch meeting someone pointed out that the Trustees were having a meeting upstairs with the Officials of a minority of Supporters Branches at the same time as ours and of which we had neither been informed of nor invited to.


It transpired subsequently that this meeting which was purported to be to discuss St. Patrick's resolutions, however inevitably became a vehicle to discuss the apparent obsession that HSA Chairperson Mike Riley has with the possible expulsion of our Branch from the HSA. It should be remembered that at last years AGM he had to deny the accusation from a Branch member, that he had raised expulsion of St. Patrick's Branch with her and others . At their meeting they also discussed the need to take legal advice, as to whether they could actually expel us ( It seems our presence to defend any allegations, Natural Justice at Law, nor valid and sufficient reason to progress this, crossed their minds). Again a big thanks goes out to HSA Treasurer Colin Rich who had the nouse to oppose the suggestion of such calamitous action.


Whether or not this threat to our Branch's very existence transpires, I for one, knowing how much work that I and many others have put in to create our truly active Hibernian Supporters Branch, from 5 members 5 years again to our present membership of 330+ and do not propose to wait or sit back and let this happen and am sure that you will all feel the same way.



We, as you know have been working with Hibernian FC at every level we possibly can and feel that at a time when Hibs seem to be turning the corner, a Semi Final and possibly a Final within our grasp, promotion back to where we belong a real possibility and good new initiatives being introduced by the Hibernian Management, that anyone engaging in self indulgent statements, or in distractions which take away from this course of action, will not be forgiven by fellow Hibs Supporters.


We have been told that HSA Chairperson Mike Riley and cohorts are straining every sinew to mobilize as many people to attend the AGM on Sunday 5th April at 12.00 as possible. The Branch Committee ask that our members also make an almighty effort to attend this meeting, to ensure that St. Pat's survive any potential attempt at the first witch-hunt of any Branch in the history of the Hibernian Supporters Association.


With farce always comes along irony not far behind. Two weeks ago our Branch Patron and Honorary Branch member Patrick Gordon Stanton presented a gift and an Honorary Branch membership to Sammy Martinez in appreciation of the wee man's 70 years of devotion to Hibernian FC. If some folk have their way the oldest living Hibernian Supporter could become the shortest lived Honorary member!!

[Bostonhibby]

Remarkable and pretty undemocratic sounding if true - makes the main players in the supporters club set up appear more like the flat earth society and looking to bully out any threat to the status quo.

[hibbymick]

Mike Reilly

Sorry, I just cant take this guy serious at all.

[blackpoolhibs]

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Mike Reilly

Sorry, I just cant take this guy serious at all.

Guys a dick, i'd rather wire my nuts to the national grid than have that man represent me on anything regarding Hibs.

[lord bunberry]

I've never met Mike Reilly but every time I hear of anything he's said or done I think he's a clown who shouldn't be given the platform he has.

[lyonhibs]

Sorry what ? There was just too many words there.

Would it be safe to assume that Mike O'Reilly has had a mare ?

Again.

[DC_Hibs]

Strange actions when he should be looking to unite the support as much as possible.

No surprise though based on his clueless comments to the press in relation to fans share ownership.

Do any of his sidekicks have a bit of savvy about them or are they all spineless?

A comprise might be to let the blazer boys carry on running their social club and appoint a new guard to get on with the important business of representing the SUPPORTERS as I have seen little evidence of the HSA having done anything of note.

[Benny Brazil]

One of the problems with the Hibs support - too many individuals with a delusion of self importance.

[Hiber-nation]

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One of the problems with the Hibs support - too many individuals with a delusion of self importance.

That is so true.

[Bad Martini]

...there was me thinking we were in a scrap for second place and promotion. **** all that malarkey, lets all pagger amongst ourselves aboot rules, clubrooms and **** best left to auld gadgies in bowling clubs

[JimBHibees]

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...there was me thinking we were in a scrap for second place and promotion. **** all that malarkey, lets all pagger amongst ourselves aboot rules, clubrooms and **** best left to auld gadgies in bowling clubs

Couldnt agree more.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

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...there was me thinking we were in a scrap for second place and promotion. **** all that malarkey, lets all pagger amongst ourselves aboot rules, clubrooms and **** best left to auld gadgies in bowling clubs

I got a ticking off for using the bowling club analogy on here a few weeks ago, still not sure why though.

[Golden Bear]

I'm not a member of any of the Supporters branches or the Hibs Club itself therefore I've no axe to grind. However there is an expression which says you shouldn't wash your dirty linen in public and maybe this wee spat should have been handled internally and not publicised via an internet forum.

[tigerted]

Apparently, another stoke will be pulled at the AGM which of course will be challenged vigorously. The St. Pat's Branch Committee met last night and went through the new Rule book proposed by the Trustees (Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, General Secretary, Asst. General Secretary). A new rule which would make Sepp Blatter and Kim Jong-Un blush, has been added that was not in the old rules........


24. On the death, resignation, retirement or removal from office of a trustee or in the event of a Trustee ceasing to be a member of the Association, the Executive Council shall take steps to co-opt a member of the Association in their place as soon as possible until a new Trustee is elected at the Annual General Meeting.

25. Any member nominated as Trustee must have served a minimum of one year as a member of the Executive Council, unless co-opted by the existing Trustees.


In essence it means when reelection of Chair etc comes around next year, of the 1500 members only the present Trustees and 7 Executive Council members (Green Jaikets) qualify for nomination to stand.

Democracy in action my RSS.

[linlithgowhibbie]

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Apparently, another stoke will be pulled at the AGM which of course will be challenged vigorously. The St. Pat's Branch Committee met last night and went through the new Rule book proposed by the Trustees (Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, General Secretary, Asst. General Secretary). A new rule which would make Sepp Blatter and Kim Jong-Un blush, has been added that was not in the old rules........


24. On the death, resignation, retirement or removal from office of a trustee or in the event of a Trustee ceasing to be a member of the Association, the Executive Council shall take steps to co-opt a member of the Association in their place as soon as possible until a new Trustee is elected at the Annual General Meeting.

25. Any member nominated as Trustee must have served a minimum of one year as a member of the Executive Council, unless co-opted by the existing Trustees.


In essence it means when reelection of Chair etc comes around next year, of the 1500 members only the present Trustees and 7 Executive Council members (Green Jaikets) qualify for nomination to stand.

Democracy in action my RSS.

Surely only from the time that the present holder of office either dies, resigns, retires or is removed from the office of trustee, ect till the next AGM.
Am I being niave here? This is normal practice and you can then vote him/her out at the next AGM if you don't like him/her.

BG

[Beefster]

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Apparently, another stoke will be pulled at the AGM which of course will be challenged vigorously. The St. Pat's Branch Committee met last night and went through the new Rule book proposed by the Trustees (Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, General Secretary, Asst. General Secretary). A new rule which would make Sepp Blatter and Kim Jong-Un blush, has been added that was not in the old rules........


24. On the death, resignation, retirement or removal from office of a trustee or in the event of a Trustee ceasing to be a member of the Association, the Executive Council shall take steps to co-opt a member of the Association in their place as soon as possible until a new Trustee is elected at the Annual General Meeting.

25. Any member nominated as Trustee must have served a minimum of one year as a member of the Executive Council, unless co-opted by the existing Trustees.


In essence it means when reelection of Chair etc comes around next year, of the 1500 members only the present Trustees and 7 Executive Council members (Green Jaikets) qualify for nomination to stand.

Democracy in action my RSS.

Can 1500 members stand to be a Trustee currently without being on the Executive Council? If not, all they are doing is making Executive Council members serve a year before being allowed to be a Trustee.

[archiebald]

Chance to get him out at agm

[Hermit Crab]

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Chance to get him out at agm

Vote of no confidence. Stand together people.

[Beefster]

It's been a while since we had a cardigan and blazer spat and folk jostling to be the 'voice' of the Hibs support. Well, 2 months at least.

Anyone got any popcorn?

[NAE NOOKIE]

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Just read this on the bounce, seems like the hibs club (well more like mike Riley) are wanting to ban the St pats branch from the club. This is not the time to start spats



A serious situation has arisen over the past period, as eluded to at our last Branch meeting. To recap for those not present, Chairperson Dougie McLeod prior to the end of business and the entrance of our two Turnbull's Tornadoes speakers that night, John Brownlie and John Blackley, informed the 50 members present of a meeting which had taken place along with Branch Secretary Gordon McKinley and the 5 Trustees of the Hibernian Supporters Association/Club a few weeks previously. The meeting was suggested by our Branch Committee in order to explain in a friendly manner the reasoning behind our proposed changes to further modernise and HSA rulebook (see attachment). This was intended to help prevent any misunderstanding at the Hibernian Supporters Association AGM, on Sunday the 5th of April.

Mike Riley hasn't exactly covered himself in glory over the past few years, but before I form a judgement on this I would like to know what these proposed changes are to "further modernise and HSA rulebook" This obviously seems to be what has triggered this spat, at least from his point of view and as you say its unusual ( if not unheard of ) for an HSA committee member, even Mike Riley, to be talking about expelling a branch. What are the proposals ?

Edit ... It says "see attachment" but there's no link here or on the bounce?

[Pretty Boy]

Without knowing what proposed changes to the rules book where put forward it's hard to make any judgement. Regardless MR should be acting more professionally (assuming things transpired exactly as described above).

All reads a bit like petty politics to me.

[marti1875]

Yes it is impossible to judge here really as it is all one sided this post so??.....for all i think Mike Riley as an absolute plum in the first degree and certainly should be ousted i will wait to see and hear BOTH sides before judging as sometimes it's not good to only listen to one side of an argument.

Lets wait and see what transpires, but it seems all petty and childish to be honest looking on the face of it...

[marinello59]

Could we please refrain from throwing personal insults at the people involved in this whoever they may be.

[Bostonhibby]

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Vote of no confidence. Stand together people.

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Without knowing what proposed changes to the rules book where put forward it's hard to make any judgement. Regardless MR should be acting more professionally (assuming things transpired exactly as described above).

All reads a bit like petty politics to me.

I think an out of town hibs fan and member had the temerity to want to attend one of the association meetings when he was back in Edinburgh. He was initially and embarrassingly refused entry by the chairman as he was an out of town member.

I believe the st Patrick's motion seeks to give all hibs fans equal access to the fans association. Other branches probably have out of town members too.

We need all the hibs fans working together and feeling like they are no less important or can contribute less than someone who is in a social club a lot. Last time I looked it was an association of hibs supporters. Not some hibs supporters.

As you say there may well be more to this but irrespective it's been a while since the association was led like an association for all rather than a gentleman's club. If the op is right this behaviour compounds that.

[marinello59]

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I think an out of town hibs fan and member had the temerity to want to attend one of the association meetings when he was back in Edinburgh. He was initially and embarrassingly refused entry by the chairman as he was an out of town member.

I believe the st Patrick's motion seeks to give all hibs fans equal access to the fans association. Other branches probably have out of town members too.

We need all the hibs fans working together and feeling like they are no less important or can contribute less than someone who is in a social club a lot. Last time I looked it was an association of hibs supporters. Not some hibs supporters.

As you say there may well be more to this but irrespective it's been a while since the association was led like an association for all rather than a gentleman's club. If the op is right this behaviour compounds that.

Hopefully this can be amicably resolved behind closed doors then. With the business end of the season fast approaching it would be kind of nice if we could all stand together. It will provide entertainment for those of us who are bored at work though.

[Bostonhibby]

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Hopefully this can be amicably resolved behind closed doors then. With the business end of the season fast approaching it would be kind of nice if we could all stand together. It will provide entertainment for those of us who are bored at work though.

Indeed, being self employed I need to stay away from this sort of thing first thing on a Monday

[invisible man]

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I think an out of town hibs fan and member had the temerity to want to attend one of the association meetings when he was back in Edinburgh. He was initially and embarrassingly refused entry by the chairman as he was an out of town member.

I believe the st Patrick's motion seeks to give all hibs fans equal access to the fans association. Other branches probably have out of town members too.

We need all the hibs fans working together and feeling like they are no less important or can contribute less than someone who is in a social club a lot. Last time I looked it was an association of hibs supporters. Not some hibs supporters.

As you say there may well be more to this but irrespective it's been a while since the association was led like an association for all rather than a gentleman's club. If the op is right this behaviour compounds that.

The current rules state that 'an Association member paying out of town subscriptions shall be admitted on match days as temporary members at the discretion of the club committee' The thinking behind this rule at the time was that out of town members weren't going to use the club as often as full members simply because of the geography of where they lived so they were charged a reduced subscription in return for being a temporary member. There's nothing to stop anyone who lives 'out of town' paying the full subscription and becoming a full member, and I'm sure if this was explained to them when they joined some of them would.

The St Pat's resolution is not about 'oot' members having access to the club, it's about giving 'oot' members full voting rights at an AGM.

[Bostonhibby]

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The current rules state that 'an Association member paying out of town subscriptions shall be admitted on match days as temporary members at the discretion of the club committee' The thinking behind this rule at the time was that out of town members weren't going to use the club as often as full members simply because of the geography of where they lived so they were charged a reduced subscription in return for being a temporary member. There's nothing to stop anyone who lives 'out of town' paying the full subscription and becoming a full member, and I'm sure if this was explained to them when they joined some of them would.

The St Pat's resolution is not about 'oot' members having access to the club, it's about giving 'oot' members full voting rights at an AGM.

Thanks. Sounds even better if the aim is to treat every member the same.

[NAE NOOKIE]

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I think an out of town hibs fan and member had the temerity to want to attend one of the association meetings when he was back in Edinburgh. He was initially and embarrassingly refused entry by the chairman as he was an out of town member.

I believe the st Patrick's motion seeks to give all hibs fans equal access to the fans association. Other branches probably have out of town members too.

We need all the hibs fans working together and feeling like they are no less important or can contribute less than someone who is in a social club a lot. Last time I looked it was an association of hibs supporters. Not some hibs supporters.

As you say there may well be more to this but irrespective it's been a while since the association was led like an association for all rather than a gentleman's club. If the op is right this behaviour compounds that.

If that's true I'm with St Pat's on this one. I have been an out of town member a couple of times and it did feel like I was a 2nd class Hibby in the eyes of the HSA. Why are out of town members treated differently anyway?

Having said that I would still like someone from St Pat's to confirm what their proposals are.

[invisible man]

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If that's true I'm with St Pat's on this one. I have been an out of town member a couple of times and it did feel like I was a 2nd class Hibby in the eyes of the HSA. Why are out of town members treated differently anyway?

See my quote above.

It should be explained to an 'oot' applicant that paying the 'oot' subscription results in reduced rights but they can become a full member if that's what they want.