Leeann Dempster

[matty_f]

I'm seeing more and more posts on here and on twitter with a very strong anti-Dempster stance, and so I'm curious as to what is behind it.

I know some people are unhappy at perceived inaction regarding our treatment at Ibrox and/or regarding the sectarian singing from both sides of the OF. Some were unhappy at Rangers getting the whole Dunbar end recently, and there's the thread about the singing section where we have an (admittedly one-sided version of events) issue with some of the support.

The criticism I've seen has been fairly personal and not just on these issues, and so I'd like to hear from people who feel that she is not doing a good job, and why/what evidence do you have for it?

FWIW, I think if you tot up her good v bad, then Dempster is significantly in credit, and the overall picture at the club is significantly better than when she took over. I think she has overseen some major positives at the club - the Scottish Cup win, Europe (twice), promotion, 4th place finish, high attendances etc..

Is it just that some small gripes are being given too much air-time, or are there genuinely folk out there who would rather we replaced her?

[Onceinawhile]

She's female and therefore insecure males think she doesn't "get it" as she panders to the club's best interest rather than their own specific interests. As a result, they use any possible stick with which to beat her.

Alternatively, there's a lot of opinions and you can't keep everyone happy all the time. Maybe you've just become more aware of it as it's so juxtaposed to your position?

[04Sauzee]

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I'm seeing more and more posts on here and on twitter with a very strong anti-Dempster stance, and so I'm curious as to what is behind it.

I know some people are unhappy at perceived inaction regarding our treatment at Ibrox and/or regarding the sectarian singing from both sides of the OF. Some were unhappy at Rangers getting the whole Dunbar end recently, and there's the thread about the singing section where we have an (admittedly one-sided version of events) issue with some of the support.

The criticism I've seen has been fairly personal and not just on these issues, and so I'd like to hear from people who feel that she is not doing a good job, and why/what evidence do you have for it?

FWIW, I think if you tot up her good v bad, then Dempster is significantly in credit, and the overall picture at the club is significantly better than when she took over. I think she has overseen some major positives at the club - the Scottish Cup win, Europe (twice), promotion, 4th place finish, high attendances etc..

Is it just that some small gripes are being given too much air-time, or are there genuinely folk out there who would rather we replaced her?

There seems to be a band of people on Twitter that have nothing good to say abut Hibs or Leeann, i have no idea what their agenda is or why they are so negative about our club.

I found myself on Friday actually firing of an email to Leeann just to say thanks for what she brings to the club especially over what has been a challenging few motnhs.

[coco mc]

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There seems to be a band of people on Twitter that have nothing good to say abut Hibs or Leeann, i have no idea what their agenda is or why they are so negative about our club.

I found myself on Friday actually firing of an email to Leeann just to say thanks for what she brings to the club especially over what has been a challenging few motnhs.

Sauzee04 wouldn’t you pm me her email address please ...it’s for something very positive
thanks GGTH

[Bangkok Hibby]

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There seems to be a band of people on Twitter that have nothing good to say abut Hibs or Leeann, i have no idea what their agenda is or why they are so negative about our club.

I found myself on Friday actually firing of an email to Leeann just to say thanks for what she brings to the club especially over what has been a challenging few motnhs.

I did exactly the same recently. Nobody is above criticism but a lot of this is unwarranted. Hibs are in a good place. I for one think shes done/doing a good job and hope she stays.
She told me she has a thick skin but all the sniping would wear anyone down.

[Alan62]

Some people like to complain about everything. As Rod Petrie has faded from daily view, it's become easier to just blame Leeann for everything that they perceive as going wrong.

Lots of fans have unrealistic expectations and some like to bash the club when we haven't spent money we don't have bringing in players we can't afford.

Others saw Leeann as the reason for Neil Lennon's departure rather than admitting that the problem was Lennon himself.

For me, she's arguably the best signing we've made in years. She's astute and well organised and, most importantly, she maintains her focus, ignores the doubters and gets on with the job.

I hope she's with us for many more years to come.

[Mango Man]

Agreed, I've had a couple of disagreements with folk on Twitter regarding what they say about Leeann.

1. The whole Lennon debacle, nobody knows what really happened with that and it was clear as day that both parties hands were tied in what they could say, so can't blame her for that.

2. Giving Rangers the whole stand, I'm a big believer in if we can guarantee our own supporters can fill it out, then we should, if it looks like we can't, then give it to Rangers, who will be able to sell it out no worries, we really can't afford to lose money and only have a smattering of Hibs fans in the stand, that's cutting off our nose to spite our face, our fans are quick enough to blame the board when we get outbid for players, this wouldn't help.

3. Singing section, did they not request to move?

4. Loyalty points, never gonna win with that one I'm afraid.

[PatHead]

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I'm seeing more and more posts on here and on twitter with a very strong anti-Dempster stance, and so I'm curious as to what is behind it.

I know some people are unhappy at perceived inaction regarding our treatment at Ibrox and/or regarding the sectarian singing from both sides of the OF. Some were unhappy at Rangers getting the whole Dunbar end recently, and there's the thread about the singing section where we have an (admittedly one-sided version of events) issue with some of the support.

The criticism I've seen has been fairly personal and not just on these issues, and so I'd like to hear from people who feel that she is not doing a good job, and why/what evidence do you have for it?

FWIW, I think if you tot up her good v bad, then Dempster is significantly in credit, and the overall picture at the club is significantly better than when she took over. I think she has overseen some major positives at the club - the Scottish Cup win, Europe (twice), promotion, 4th place finish, high attendances etc..

Is it just that some small gripes are being given too much air-time, or are there genuinely folk out there who would rather we replaced her?

Matty, I think you have missed the one which really seemed to escalate complaints, namely the Neil Lennon saga and the subsequent silence during the appointment of our new manager.

Personally, I think overall she is doing a great job and hope she will stay for some time to come.

[matty_f]

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Matty, I think you have missed the one which really seemed to escalate complaints, namely the Neil Lennon saga and the subsequent silence during the appointment of our new manager.

Personally, I think overall she is doing a great job and hope she will stay for some time to come.

Yes, I did miss that one, which was fairly significant now you mention it.

I think that whole situation could have been handled better to a point, but having dealt with HR issues I know the employer has to be very careful what they say.

[davhibby]

I think there are plenty who understand and appreciate the good she has done but I think that most of what she has done wrong is on the fan relations front which will always lead to folk getting on her back. Even just the fact we'd pretty much not heard from her in 2 years until the other week when the interaction with the support had been so good left her open to people having a go. Obviously there are always going to be people who like to have a pop at the club for no reason but I don't think the fact she seems to be leaving sections of the support disgruntled should be swept under the carpet as just people moaning over nothing

[Stonewall]

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I think there are plenty who understand and appreciate the good she has done but I think that most of what she has done wrong is on the fan relations front which will always lead to folk getting on her back. Even just the fact we'd pretty much not heard from her in 2 years until the other week when the interaction with the support had been so good left her open to people having a go. Obviously there are always going to be people who like to have a pop at the club for no reason but I don't think the fact she seems to be leaving sections of the support disgruntled should be swept under the carpet as just people moaning over nothing

From what I’ve seen most of the criticism is ludicrous and very little of it has any merit whatsoever and is best ignored as in true internet style no-one is listening. If no-one is listening there’s no point in replying.

I think Pathead is right in that the Lennon saga appeared to be a tipping point for many but in reality the club was just being professional and doing what these muppets wanted would have potentially cost the club a lot of money. Needless to say when these inconvenient facts were pointed out they were ignored or shouted down. No counter arguments were given.

No point getting involved, just accept we have a lot of idiots amongst us unfortunately and move on.

[Smartie]

I think she's magnificent, and is continuing to do an excellent job.

None of our recent problems are of her making (or at they aren't based on my understanding of events). Issues have found their way to her and she's had to deal with them. I agree with her stance regarding the crowd trouble, I agree with her handling of the Lennon situation and how that led to us ending up with the manager we now have.

Her job is always going to be a fairly thankless one. You cannot keep everyone in a support like ours happy all the time and every decision you make will be welcomed by some and slaughtered by others.

We've not won a hoodoo-busting trophy for 3 years so some folk will be getting twitchy down to that. Some won't like her words and hard line regarding crowd behaviour.

We're unlikely to get anyone, ever, who does as good a job as she's done over the piece.

My main criticism would be a more general one of Hibs at present - there are lots of factors relating to Rangers that I'm not entirely happy about. I don't like our continued silence regarding sectarian chanting in our stadium, I think some of what has been directed at some of our recent managers at Ibrox has been disgraceful (along with Hibs' silence on the subject). I don't think we should have just "moved on" from Rangers cheating years and I think the fact that we've all been urged to move on without examining and learning from the episode has led to the widespread lack of faith in the integrity of football governance in Scotland that is expressed on a weekly basis. I don't agree with flogging them the whole South Stand, thousands of huns in your ground for a Friday night party does not create an atmosphere that I like and I won't be back at another game like that (another seat that could be filled by a knuckle dragger wielding blue pounds if Hibs so wish). I don't think these decisions are solely down to LD though and don't wish to beat her with them.

So - on the whole - I am delighted with the job she continues to do, and my concerns are minor.

[The 90+2]

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I think she's magnificent, and is continuing to do an excellent job.

None of our recent problems are of her making (or at they aren't based on my understanding of events). Issues have found their way to her and she's had to deal with them. I agree with her stance regarding the crowd trouble, I agree with her handling of the Lennon situation and how that led to us ending up with the manager we now have.

Her job is always going to be a fairly thankless one. You cannot keep everyone in a support like ours happy all the time and every decision you make will be welcomed by some and slaughtered by others.

We've not won a hoodoo-busting trophy for 3 years so some folk will be getting twitchy down to that. Some won't like her words and hard line regarding crowd behaviour.

We're unlikely to get anyone, ever, who does as good a job as she's done over the piece.

My main criticism would be a more general one of Hibs at present - there are lots of factors relating to Rangers that I'm not entirely happy about. I don't like our continued silence regarding sectarian chanting in our stadium, I think some of what has been directed at some of our recent managers at Ibrox has been disgraceful (along with Hibs' silence on the subject). I don't think we should have just "moved on" from Rangers cheating years and I think the fact that we've all been urged to move on without examining and learning from the episode has led to the widespread lack of faith in the integrity of football governance in Scotland that is expressed on a weekly basis. I don't agree with flogging them the whole South Stand, thousands of huns in your ground for a Friday night party does not create an atmosphere that I like and I won't be back at another game like that (another seat that could be filled by a knuckle dragger wielding blue pounds if Hibs so wish). I don't think these decisions are solely down to LD though and don't wish to beat her with them.

So - on the whole - I am delighted with the job she continues to do, and my concerns are minor.

Great post.

[Bostonhibby]

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I think she's magnificent, and is continuing to do an excellent job.

None of our recent problems are of her making (or at they aren't based on my understanding of events). Issues have found their way to her and she's had to deal with them. I agree with her stance regarding the crowd trouble, I agree with her handling of the Lennon situation and how that led to us ending up with the manager we now have.

Her job is always going to be a fairly thankless one. You cannot keep everyone in a support like ours happy all the time and every decision you make will be welcomed by some and slaughtered by others.

We've not won a hoodoo-busting trophy for 3 years so some folk will be getting twitchy down to that. Some won't like her words and hard line regarding crowd behaviour.

We're unlikely to get anyone, ever, who does as good a job as she's done over the piece.

My main criticism would be a more general one of Hibs at present - there are lots of factors relating to Rangers that I'm not entirely happy about. I don't like our continued silence regarding sectarian chanting in our stadium, I think some of what has been directed at some of our recent managers at Ibrox has been disgraceful (along with Hibs' silence on the subject). I don't think we should have just "moved on" from Rangers cheating years and I think the fact that we've all been urged to move on without examining and learning from the episode has led to the widespread lack of faith in the integrity of football governance in Scotland that is expressed on a weekly basis. I don't agree with flogging them the whole South Stand, thousands of huns in your ground for a Friday night party does not create an atmosphere that I like and I won't be back at another game like that (another seat that could be filled by a knuckle dragger wielding blue pounds if Hibs so wish). I don't think these decisions are solely down to LD though and don't wish to beat her with them.

So - on the whole - I am delighted with the job she continues to do, and my concerns are minor.

This is pretty much my views too.

She's doing a great job. In so far as the issue over the away end and Huns goes, it was on her watch we cut their allocation too, personally I'd keep them out until we have proof they're doing something about the hateful treatment away fans get at Sevco.

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[PatHead]

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I think she's magnificent, and is continuing to do an excellent job.

None of our recent problems are of her making (or at they aren't based on my understanding of events). Issues have found their way to her and she's had to deal with them. I agree with her stance regarding the crowd trouble, I agree with her handling of the Lennon situation and how that led to us ending up with the manager we now have.

Her job is always going to be a fairly thankless one. You cannot keep everyone in a support like ours happy all the time and every decision you make will be welcomed by some and slaughtered by others.

We've not won a hoodoo-busting trophy for 3 years so some folk will be getting twitchy down to that. Some won't like her words and hard line regarding crowd behaviour.

We're unlikely to get anyone, ever, who does as good a job as she's done over the piece.

My main criticism would be a more general one of Hibs at present - there are lots of factors relating to Rangers that I'm not entirely happy about. I don't like our continued silence regarding sectarian chanting in our stadium, I think some of what has been directed at some of our recent managers at Ibrox has been disgraceful (along with Hibs' silence on the subject). I don't think we should have just "moved on" from Rangers cheating years and I think the fact that we've all been urged to move on without examining and learning from the episode has led to the widespread lack of faith in the integrity of football governance in Scotland that is expressed on a weekly basis. I don't agree with flogging them the whole South Stand, thousands of huns in your ground for a Friday night party does not create an atmosphere that I like and I won't be back at another game like that (another seat that could be filled by a knuckle dragger wielding blue pounds if Hibs so wish). I don't think these decisions are solely down to LD though and don't wish to beat her with them.

So - on the whole - I am delighted with the job she continues to do, and my concerns are minor.

Can I clarify a couple of things.

Hibs did complain to Sevco about the treatment Alan Stubbs received. They did it in our normal proper manner and not through the papers.

With regard to the cutting of their allocation I am in favour of that but once again lets be fair here, we did cut their allocation for at least 2 games (off the top of my head). I can't remember us doing that before. We have stood up to them more often in the last few years than I can remember us doing before.

As I said I am in favour of us cutting their allocation however the supporters did not back the decision by filling our sections. Money will have been a major consideration in that and if we can put more money towards a Mark McNulty signing then that is a strong argument to the board.

In the current climate of Sevco deflecting everything and posing as the victims in MSM maybe just now isn't the time to go in with all guns blazing.

[HFC93]

A few nutters on twitter seem to be obsessed with her Rangers supporting past. It’s embarrassing reading some of the stuff posted about her on that subject.

[JimBHibees]

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A few nutters on twitter seem to be obsessed with her Rangers supporting past. It’s embarrassing reading some of the stuff posted about her on that subject.

They sound like bigots

[Hibernia&Alba]

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A few nutters on twitter seem to be obsessed with her Rangers supporting past. It’s embarrassing reading some of the stuff posted about her on that subject.

Was she a Rangers fan?

#Dempsteroot

[J-C]

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A few nutters on twitter seem to be obsessed with her Rangers supporting past. It’s embarrassing reading some of the stuff posted about her on that subject.

Same people I'd guess who were greetin about Lennon ( the Celtic loving manager) leaving us, oh the irony.

Leeann has been a very good CEO, I think the fans reps were brought in so she could crack on with the job and they could pass on info etc to the fans.

The Lennon debacle has been a big contribution to all this latest seethe against her, weird that the abuse being doled out by the Twitter eejits is the same that got Lennon booted from ER.

[Hibs90]

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I'm seeing more and more posts on here and on twitter with a very strong anti-Dempster stance, and so I'm curious as to what is behind it.

I know some people are unhappy at perceived inaction regarding our treatment at Ibrox and/or regarding the sectarian singing from both sides of the OF. Some were unhappy at Rangers getting the whole Dunbar end recently, and there's the thread about the singing section where we have an (admittedly one-sided version of events) issue with some of the support.

The criticism I've seen has been fairly personal and not just on these issues, and so I'd like to hear from people who feel that she is not doing a good job, and why/what evidence do you have for it?

FWIW, I think if you tot up her good v bad, then Dempster is significantly in credit, and the overall picture at the club is significantly better than when she took over. I think she has overseen some major positives at the club - the Scottish Cup win, Europe (twice), promotion, 4th place finish, high attendances etc..

Is it just that some small gripes are being given too much air-time, or are there genuinely folk out there who would rather we replaced her?

I agree with you overall that she is doing a good job however failure to call out the sectarian singing of Rangers/Celtic and to an extent Hearts fans has been poor. As has been the loyalty points debacle.

I was also disappointed recently to find out the clubs stance on false journalism. I e-mailed asking about the situation with a certain reporter and newspaper (Jackson/Record) and was pretty disappointed with the response of 'we don't want to feed their ego and cause more uncertainty". So Jackson and his cronies will continue to dig at the club and fans at every opportunity.

[matty_f]

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I agree with you overall that she is doing a good job however failure to call out the sectarian singing of Rangers/Celtic and to an extent Hearts fans has been poor. As has been the loyalty points debacle.

I was also disappointed recently to find out the clubs stance on false journalism. I e-mailed asking about the situation with a certain reporter and newspaper (Jackson/Record) and was pretty disappointed with the response of 'we don't want to feed their ego and cause more uncertainty". So Jackson and his cronies will continue to dig at the club and fans at every opportunity.

The Daily Record one is a good point as well, I don't think any of us are happy at the way in which they regularly take shots at us, and I'm definitely of the view that we should have (or should) call them out on it.

[Gatecrasher]

i think in general she has done a good job but i think she's been a bit rash and quick regarding the recent incidents to the point where normal well behaved fans might feel like they are in the fiting line as well when it comes to the statements being released. I also feel like there has been some issues that havent been addressed that have been issues since before her time at the club started for instance the catering and behind the goals are two prime examples of this, Hibs retweeted a Ross County tweet about their supporters bar a few weeks ago and their supporters bar looked a lot nicer than ours for example.

I think leaving these things unfixed has perhaps tainted her time slightly as we all thought things were finally going to get sorted from the fans experience side of things. Like i said though overall i feel she has been very good for the club.

[AgentDaleCooper]

one element of it, i think, is that people really don't like the idea of holding themselves (individually or collectively) accountable. i for one think she is absolutely superb.

[Pretty Boy]

I'm indifferent really.

She is a football administrator who is well paid to make decisions she believes are in the best interests of the business she is employed to run. Some of them I agree with, others I don't.

That's as far as it goes for me really. Who she supported previously is irrelevant as far as I'm concerned. It does her professional career no good to make decisions based on an emotional attachment to a rival business. Likewise the idea she would willfully make decisions that could harm the club out of little more than spite seems fanciful at best; it's in her best interests, in terms of both financial recompense and career advancement, that Hibs are successful.

I suppose you could argue she was put on such a pedestal early in her tenure simply for being competent that there is now a thought process among some that she is there to be got at given we have had a tougher spell than many have become used to in the last 2 or 3 years.

[HibeeHibernian4]

I think a lot of it stems from the fact that she was so celebrated and heralded in her first couple of years here, that the backlash (when it came) was always going to be stronger as a result. If most Hibs fans were neutral on her, people would probably be less passionate in their dislike of her.

Personally, I think she's done good things for the team on the park, while being nothing short of a disaster for the fans off it. Once the success on the park came and the new/lapsed fans started filling the seats, she has not given a solitary ***** about fan experience.

Stubbornness on loyalty points, our disgraceful treatment at Ibrox in the December 2015 game, refusing the singing section to trial the FF Lower for a pishy game against Ross County in the League Cup and instead happily allowing the stand to lay half empty every Category B game. These problems were conveniently ignored by our fans when there was success on the park, but this season a lot have manifested themselves because of a downturn in results. She essentially didn't fix the massive holes in the roof while the sun was shining on Leith.

And lastly, the uncomfortable truth, because she's a woman. And, for an even smaller minority, a lesbian. There is a strong correlation between Dempster's fiercest opponents and the use of the homophobic slur 'dyke', and it's absolutely not on. If you want to criticise her, do so for her actions (or lack of), not her sexuality.

[Weegreenman]

I think I once wrote ( jokingly ) that I might be in love Leeann. ( I’m not really, just really happy with the job she’s doing/done)

Apparently that was one of the saddest posts ever to be written on the Hibs.net forum. Aye there’s folk gunning for her awrite! Idiots if ye ask me. I’ve been around a while and know a good thing when I see it. Long live Leeann

[I'm Spartacus]

In my opinion, you CANNOT pander to football fans when trying to run the club, yes you can listen to certain things regarding experience, but in the whole you need to be strong and clear how you want the club to be run.

ALL football fans are a disaster when it comes to opinions on the running of their club!

[Besties Debut]

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I think she's magnificent, .

When I was a kid growing up in the late 60s and early 70s the only folk on the easter road payroll that I thought were ''magnificent'' were Pat Stanton, Jimmy O Rourke Arthur Duncan, and Alex Cropley...Worshiping the clubs board was unheard of.
It must be a new millennial internet thing where some fans adore the clubs CEO.
For the record, if you want to credit Leeanne for the Scottish Cup win as some of her aficionados like to do then you can also put the 3 years in the Championship down to her as well. I notice another thing her fans love to do is praise her for the way she cast out the ginger satan yet don't actually have a clue what happened due to the club going into silent mode for days after it. Thus allowing every journalist and pundit to ridicule and rip us apart.

[Smartie]

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When I was a kid growing up in the late 60s and early 70s the only folk on the easter road payroll that I thought were ''magnificent'' were Pat Stanton, Jimmy O Rourke Arthur Duncan, and Alex Cropley...Worshiping the clubs board was unheard of.
It must be a new millennial internet thing where some fans adore the clubs CEO.
For the record, if you want to credit Leeanne for the Scottish Cup win as some of her aficionados like to do then you can also put the 3 years in the Championship down to her as well. I notice another thing her fans love to do is praise her for the way she cast out the ginger satan yet don't actually have a clue what happened due to the club going into silent mode for days after it. Thus allowing every journalist and pundit to ridicule and rip us apart.

How come many decades later I know the names of Harry Swan and Tom Hart?

Hibs have, sadly, suffered from some pretty questionable stewardship at that level throughout their history and when they've not been suffering from it they've been suffering from the aftermath of it. It's not a role that gets a lot of acclaim but they put in place the structure for all of our more recognisable figures to thrive and receive our acclaim.

You described some players who are justifiably appreciated by our fanbase for what they did for our club. None of them have ever been on the payroll whilst there has been a Scottish Cup sitting in the trophy cabinet.

Remember where we were when we had just been relegated at that game with Hamilton. That was LD's starting point. Surely no sane Hibs fan can begrudge her a bit of praise and credit for turning that point (starting with bulleting Butcher) via a Scottish Cup win to where we are now, in such a short space of time?

[Hibernia&Alba]

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How come many decades later I know the names of Harry Swan and Tom Hart?

Hibs have, sadly, suffered from some pretty questionable stewardship at that level throughout their history and when they've not been suffering from it they've been suffering from the aftermath of it. It's not a role that gets a lot of acclaim but they put in place the structure for all of our more recognisable figures to thrive and receive our acclaim.

You described some players who are justifiably appreciated by our fanbase for what they did for our club. None of them have ever been on the payroll whilst there has been a Scottish Cup sitting in the trophy cabinet.

Remember where we were when we had just been relegated at that game with Hamilton. That was LD's starting point. Surely no sane Hibs fan can begrudge her a bit of praise and credit for turning that point (starting with bulleting Butcher) via a Scottish Cup win to where we are now, in such a short space of time?

Very much agree. Of course there have been mistakes, but overall she has done a fine job, IMHO.