Why has Ron Gordon bought Hibs?

[superfurryhibby]

On another thread this question was posed and no one seems able to answer it. In fact, it’s being avoided, like a very large elephant in the room.

Someone said that there is no one out there who would buy Hibs, which I found ironic given that Gordon did just that two years ago ( or less)

It’s not a hard question, but it seems like we fans are unable to even go there.

I can understand why a wealthy Hibs supporting business person ( like Harry Swan, Tom Hart, Kenny Waugh) might fancy the status and profile owning Hibs would bring. I get why a community minded, mega rich guy with family ties to the club, like STF, might get involved.

I just don’t see what people with no ties to the city or the club would find appealing about owning Hibs?

If they have a vision of trophies, playing regularly in Europe etc, then maybe they need a wake up call in terms of what kind of investment is needed to achieve that?

[ancient hibee]

Neither Harry Swan or Kenny Waugh were
Hibs supporters. Kenny Waugh tried to buy Hearts before Hibs.

[Jones28]

I think we will be fine under RG’s ownership. In particular I trust STF’s judgement that he was the right person.

I think having a football club in europes nicest capital city would have an appeal, particularly because of the potential the club has. I do think there has to be a significant increase in investment if he wants the club to be involved in European football consistently. There’s no doubt for me that the last year or so will have been a steep learning curve for RG.

[Allant1981]

Please dont take this the wrong way but how are "normal" fans ever going to know the answer as to why he bought the club, im guessing to make money somehow, he is a business man and probably seen potential but we will likely never know

[Lendo]

On another thread this question was posed and no one seems able to answer it. In fact, it’s being avoided, like a very large elephant in the room.

Someone said that there is no one out there who would buy Hibs, which I found ironic given that Gordon did just that two years ago ( or less)

It’s not a hard question, but it seems like we fans are unable to even go there.

I can understand why a wealthy Hibs supporting business person ( like Harry Swan, Tom Hart, Kenny Waugh) might fancy the status and profile owning Hibs would bring. I get why a community minded, mega rich guy with family ties to the club, like STF, might get involved.

I just don’t see what people with no ties to the city or the club would find appealing about owning Hibs?

If they have a vision of trophies, playing regularly in Europe etc, then maybe they need a wake up call in terms of what kind of investment is needed to achieve that?

Presumably the reason it’s not been answered is the only person that knows why Ron Gordon bought a football club is Ron Gordon?

[Greencore]

Personally I don't know why, from digging I found out he has a keen interest in Scotland and the culture of the county, given his grandfather was Scottish. He also has a keen interest in football so really maybe he is seeing us as a nice little project in the capital of the country he is fond of?

Instead of doing up your garden or building a man cave like the rest of us, he's seeing us as this?

Only Ron knows why he bought hibs. Possibly his son too?

[superfurryhibby]

Neither Harry Swan or Kenny Waugh were
Hibs supporters. Kenny Waugh tried to buy Hearts before Hibs.

Harry Swan was involved with the Hibs board for ten years before he became the principal shareholder. As the owner of the club for another 25 years thereafter, I would say he was a Hibs supporter.


I think we will be fine under RG’s ownership. In particular I trust STF’s judgement that he was the right person.

I think having a football club in europes nicest capital city would have an appeal, particularly because of the potential the club has. I do think there has to be a significant increase in investment if he wants the club to be involved in European football consistently. There’s no doubt for me that the last year or so will have been a steep learning curve for RG.

Without wishing to raise another taboo subject, I very much doubt STF was that involved in any judgement around whether Gordon was a suitable buyer for Hibs.


Please dont take this the wrong way but how are "normal" fans ever going to know the answer as to why he bought the club, im guessing to make money somehow, he is a business man and probably seen potential but we will likely never know

I’m not taking anything the wrong way, I ‘m just surprised that inviting some speculation on such a fundamental part of our club seems to be beyond many’s whit or imagination. However, making money from Scottish football has been shown time and time again to be quite elusive, unless you own Celtic.

[18Craig75]

What I don’t get is, surely one of the reasons for buying a club would be to experience big occasions with the club. He wasn’t at the final v Celtic and he wasn’t there yesterday. I don’t think there’s anything shady going on it just surprises me how absent he is.

[Ronniekirk]

To turn us into the Greenest Club in Scotland ,look to expand his business interests in Scotland , give his son a proper job and provide a blue print to change our whole structure to produce talented players that can be sold on for a profit and hopefully he is ambitious enough to want success on the pitch The problem now though is we should of ensured we got third place again this year as European money is the difference between being able to afford a couple of real quality signings
The fact it’s hearts now getting this when they already have a benefactor and more fan money than us is a sore one to take


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Scotty Leither]

What I don’t get is, surely one of the reasons for buying a club would be to experience big occasions with the club. He wasn’t at the final v Celtic and he wasn’t there yesterday. I don’t think there’s anything shady going on it just surprises me how absent he is.

I never knew that, and I find that quite worrying to be honest, especially as he's got a house here now. Kensell apparently pitches up at the Derby last week 15 minutes before kick off, too.

WTF is the leadership at the club?

[SlickShoes]

Only Ron knows the answer to this, but the assumption on this forum seems to be that he has some secretive bad intentions for hibs or just wants to flip us for a quick profit.

No one is flipping a Scottish club for a profit, what would suggest he's out to cause harm to the club? Some of his decisions haven't went well but it's hardly malicious.

Nothing he has said or done has suggested either of these things, people just want to find something wrong with him so they can be mad at him.

[SlickShoes]

I never knew that, and I find that quite worrying to be honest, especially as he's got a house here now. Kensell apparently pitches up at the Derby last week 15 minutes before kick off, too.

WTF is the leadership at the club?

What time should he have arrived? If you could let him know your preferred arrival time maybe he will take it into consideration next time.

[gaz1875]

Only Ron knows the answer to this, but the assumption on this forum seems to be that he has some secretive bad intentions for hibs or just wants to flip us for a quick profit.

No one is flipping a Scottish club for a profit, what would suggest he's out to cause harm to the club? Some of his decisions haven't went well but it's hardly malicious.

Nothing he has said or done has suggested either of these things, people just want to find something wrong with him so they can be mad at him.

:top marks

[greenginger]

Neither Harry Swan or Kenny Waugh were
Hibs supporters. Kenny Waugh tried to buy Hearts before Hibs.
Kenny
Waugh was always a Hibs supporter. He was a member of the fifty club for many years before buying Hibs.
The reason he gave for trying to buy Hearts was they became available and he never though Hibs would become available and he fancied owning a football club.

[Pretty Boy]

Only Ron knows the answer to this, but the assumption on this forum seems to be that he has some secretive bad intentions for hibs or just wants to flip us for a quick profit.

No one is flipping a Scottish club for a profit, what would suggest he's out to cause harm to the club? Some of his decisions haven't went well but it's hardly malicious.

Nothing he has said or done has suggested either of these things, people just want to find something wrong with him so they can be mad at him.

The only person who has made any reference to secretive bad intentions is you.

On another thread you stated he wouldn't make any money at or from Hibs. Businessmen generally don't get involved in buying and running businesses unless there is a financial gain in it for them. The exceptions may well be the likes of STF who had so much money he could afford not to profit from Hibs.

That then suggests there is another reason for his involvement and I don't see why it's so taboo to discuss that.

Fwiw I doubt there is anything particularly nefarious going on. There is easier ways to get your hands on real estate in Edinburgh than buying a football club and having your plans subjected to an emotional onslaught. Equally though his personal reasoning for being here intrigues me. If it's with half an eye on building a club that is regularly successful in Scotland then he is naive in the extreme imo. It's going to take several tens of millions more than he has thrown at Hibs thus far to get close to achieving that. Look at what Rangers had to spend to wrestle one league title away from Celtic.

[Scotty Leither]

What time should he have arrived? If you could let him know your preferred arrival time maybe he will take it into consideration next time.

Facetious much?

Maybe, just maybe, he could have traveled on the bus with the team? I don't think him or Gordon take any fans views "into consideration", though and therein lies the problem; too many soundbite initiatives like the much lauded link up with Charleston Battery, the top-heavy Board and mountain of administrators, and now we're hearing of a seven-figure refurbishment programme at the ground, yet we cannot spend any Boyle money, because it's "too late in the window"?

Piss poor leadership all the way down the club.

[SlickShoes]

The only person who has made any reference to secretive bad intentions is you.

On another thread you stated he wouldn't make any money at or from Hibs. Businessmen generally don't get involved in buying and running businesses unless there is a financial gain in it for them. The exceptions may well be the likes of STF who had so much money he could afford not to profit from Hibs.

That then suggests there is another reason for his involvement and I don't see why it's so taboo to discuss that.

Fwiw I doubt there is anything particularly nefarious going on. There is easier ways to get your hands on real estate in Edinburgh than buying a football club and having your plans subjected to an emotional onslaught. Equally though his personal reasoning for being here intrigues me. If it's with half an eye on building a club that is regularly successful in Scotland then he is naive in the extreme imo. It's going to take several tens of millions more than he has thrown at Hibs thus far to get close to achieving that. Look at what Rangers had to spend to wrestle one league title away from Celtic.

He could make money from Hibs, but not in the way people keep suggesting that he's going to just come in and buy us, bank the covid and Boyle money and leave.

If he wants to make money from Hibs it is a long term project that will take years to accomplish. If that is what he is doing then he's hardly going to bail at the first sign of trouble and lose money.

I am not the only person to mention "secretive bad intentions" maybe the only person to call it that, but people keep questioning why he is here, what does he want etc etc, like there must be some reason that he would buy is that isn't obvious or possibly nefarious.

[SlickShoes]

Facetious much?

Maybe, just maybe, he could have traveled on the bus with the team? I don't think him or Gordon take any fans views "into consideration", though and therein lies the problem; too many soundbite initiatives like the much lauded link up with Charleston Battery, the top-heavy Board and mountain of administrators, and now we're hearing of a seven-figure refurbishment programme at the ground, yet we cannot spend any Boyle money, because it's "too late in the window"?

Piss poor leadership all the way down the club.

Why would he travel on the team bus?

Why would we spend the Boyle money if the right player is not available? Just spend it because it's there makes no sense.

What's wrong with the Charleston link up?

Why can't you improve the stadium as well as invest the playing squad?

[Scotty Leither]

Why would he travel on the team bus?

Ermm, he's the top gadgie, the CEO??? (Although right now he appears to be Mr Anonymous, much like our absent owner.)

[SlickShoes]

Ermm, he's the top gadgie, the CEO??? (Although right now he appears to be Mr Anonymous, much like our absent owner.)

In what way has Ben been absent or anonymous?

The team bus is for playing staff normally, not sure why the CEO would travel with them, should the board also be on the bus?

[#2 Double Tap]

Only Ron knows the answer to this, but the assumption on this forum seems to be that he has some secretive bad intentions for hibs or just wants to flip us for a quick profit.

No one is flipping a Scottish club for a profit, what would suggest he's out to cause harm to the club? Some of his decisions haven't went well but it's hardly malicious.

Nothing he has said or done has suggested either of these things, people just want to find something wrong with him so they can be mad at him.

he bought us for an absolute bargain, if he was to put us up for sale he would make a profit.

[Jones28]

he bought us for an absolute bargain, if he was to put us up for sale he would make a profit.

Who’s buying?

[Jones28]

In what way has Ben been absent or anonymous?

The team bus is for playing staff normally, not sure why the CEO would travel with them, should the board also be on the bus?

BK hasn’t been, but it’s another stick to beat the club with so let’s just roll with it.

[Scotty Leither]

Why would he travel on the team bus?

Why would we spend the Boyle money if the right player is not available? Just spend it because it's there makes no sense.

What's wrong with the Charleston link up?

Why can't you improve the stadium as well as invest the playing squad?

So there was not one player in the SPL our recruitment team thought could improve us?

The reserve goalie at Rangers maybe, McLaughlin? Forrest at Livingston? They wouldn't be "available" because I'm guessing no money from the Boyle transfer would be made available.

I'm surprised they didn't try and sign a loan player on the last day, oops wait a minute we did, a 20-year old laddie, Jasper.

Where have we benefited from the Charleston link up in terms of players brought in? Another vanity project by the looks of it.

Lastly, the playing side needs done up, not the ground. There's that many carts being put before the horse at Easter Road we could open our own stables.

[Pretty Boy]

He could make money from Hibs, but not in the way people keep suggesting that he's going to just come in and buy us, bank the covid and Boyle money and leave.

If he wants to make money from Hibs it is a long term project that will take years to accomplish. If that is what he is doing then he's hardly going to bail at the first sign of trouble and lose money.

I am not the only person to mention "secretive bad intentions" maybe the only person to call it that, but people keep questioning why he is here, what does he want etc etc, like there must be some reason that he would buy is that isn't obvious or possibly nefarious.

I don't have any issue at all with people being curious or even cynical about why he is here. It's certainly preferable to following the lead of the idiots across the city and doffing our caps to 'Mr Gordon'.

His intentions and his ambitions are very much our business when it comes to Hibs. He's one in a long line of custodians of the club, we'll be here long after he has gone.

[overdrive]

To give his son a job and entry point in the football industry?

[Pretty Boy]

Who’s buying?

Someone else like Ron Gordon?

That's kind of the point of this thread. We don't know what would motivate anyone to buy Hibs (unless they are a wealthy, high profile fan).

[NORTHERNHIBBY]

Possibly a more relevant question at this time, is where are we right now against the objectives and targets.

[WestEndHibee]

Possibly a more relevant question at this time, is where are we right now against the objectives and targets.

By anyone's standards we must be behind on sporting objectives and targets. What possibly shows up in Gordon's favour for me is that there's a lack of panic meaning that he's in for the long term and that we must at least be meeting or close to meeting off field targets.

I reckon its been a bit of a learning curve so far, hopefully we find out in the summer that those lessons have been learned and are sorted out.

[SlickShoes]

So there was not one player in the SPL our recruitment team thought could improve us?

The reserve goalie at Rangers maybe, McLaughlin? Forrest at Livingston? They wouldn't be "available" because I'm guessing no money from the Boyle transfer would be made available.

I'm surprised they didn't try and sign a loan player on the last day, oops wait a minute we did, a 20-year old laddie, Jasper.

Where have we benefited from the Charleston link up in terms of players brought in? Another vanity project by the looks of it.

Lastly, the playing side needs done up, not the ground. There's that many carts being put before the horse at Easter Road we could open our own stables.

Why would McLaughlin want to leave Rangers and sign for hibs? Did Forrest want to leave Livi? Would Livi have even wanted to sell him, would we even meet their valuation? You assume everyone wants to play for hibs, and that is not the case.

We have a player playing at Charleston right now, what are you expecting to happen? should they be shipping players over to us monthly?

[Billy McKirdy]

What I don’t get is, surely one of the reasons for buying a club would be to experience big occasions with the club. He wasn’t at the final v Celtic and he wasn’t there yesterday. I don’t think there’s anything shady going on it just surprises me how absent he is.

Just to correct you, Ron Gordon was at the Final, I spoke to him outside the ground.

[ScottB]

There’s only really two answers for someone with no emotional ties to the club or the area to want to buy a Scottish football club.

1. They just really love football and want to be involved, this just happens to be the level they can afford.

2. They think there’s unrealised value in Scottish football relative to other countries and thinks eventually the club will be worth a good deal more than it cost.

As far as I can tell, his motivation is the latter. He could be right, and there’s growth to be had. Whether he has the ability to both big Hibs up and influence a positive direction for the wider game here to realise a possibly bigger return on his investment remains to be seen…

[Mick O'Rourke]

Kenny
Waugh was always a Hibs supporter. He was a member of the fifty club for many years before buying Hibs.
The reason he gave for trying to buy Hearts was they became available and he never though Hibs would become available and he fancied owning a football club.
I think Kenny himself spoke of the interview with Hearts directors.
One asked Kenny "what school did you go to" .
That question ,i understand, ended the interest.
The directors name escapes me.

[WestEndHibee]

Someone else like Ron Gordon?

That's kind of the point of this thread. We don't know what would motivate anyone to buy Hibs (unless they are a wealthy, high profile fan).

He's always talked a lot about the untapped potential being a factor. If you're looking to get into an industry then a potentially sound investment is one that is currently underachieving when measured against its assets. Scottish football as a whole is underachieving financially against similar sized nations and, for all its faults, Hibs have one of the best set ups off the pitch in Scottish football and definitely haven't been performing well enough to match those assets. On paper it should take a relatively little amount of investment to grow Hibs while hopefully riding a wave of growth in Scottish Football overall.

[Greencore]

How much did he actually pay for hibs with the debt obviously included, wasn't like stf was going to sell amd ignore the debt...

[WestEndHibee]

So there was not one player in the SPL our recruitment team thought could improve us?

The reserve goalie at Rangers maybe, McLaughlin? Forrest at Livingston? They wouldn't be "available" because I'm guessing no money from the Boyle transfer would be made available.

I'm surprised they didn't try and sign a loan player on the last day, oops wait a minute we did, a 20-year old laddie, Jasper.

Where have we benefited from the Charleston link up in terms of players brought in? Another vanity project by the looks of it.

Lastly, the playing side needs done up, not the ground. There's that many carts being put before the horse at Easter Road we could open our own stables.


Its well known that buying on the last day is a fools errand as you'll always pay more than you should. It probably would have paid off if we had achieved Europe group stages but would forrest or McLaughlin have guaranteed that the group stages? almost certainly not. Boyle's departure was the worst timing but everyone has said that they couldn't stand in his way and hopefully we'll be able to get way more for the Boyle money in the summer than we would have on the last day of the winter window.

[Scotty Leither]

Why would McLaughlin want to leave Rangers and sign for hibs? Did Forrest want to leave Livi? Would Livi have even wanted to sell him, would we even meet their valuation? You assume everyone wants to play for hibs, and that is not the case.

We have a player playing at Charleston right now, what are you expecting to happen? should they be shipping players over to us monthly?

A fine list of excuses there NOT to sign proven players - better watch our recruitment team will be asking for your insight shortly, it seems to chime with theirs and the bean counter before them.

Some of us want to see some sign of ambition on the playing side and a change from the continual churn of ordinary players that came into this club under Petrie, made zero impression and left through the revolving door shortly after, because that's the stink that still seems to hang over the club in terms of recrutiment.

I've gave you two names - care to come back with who you think would improve us in the short term, and might've salvaged something from this season?

[Since90+2]

Why would McLaughlin want to leave Rangers and sign for hibs? Did Forrest want to leave Livi? Would Livi have even wanted to sell him, would we even meet their valuation? You assume everyone wants to play for hibs, and that is not the case.

We have a player playing at Charleston right now, what are you expecting to happen? should they be shipping players over to us monthly?

The obvious question to your first question is to actually play football rather than sitting on the bench 95% of the time.

[Scotty Leither]

Its well known that buying on the last day is a fools errand as you'll always pay more than you should. It probably would have paid off if we had achieved Europe group stages but would forrest or McLaughlin have guaranteed that the group stages? almost certainly not. Boyle's departure was the worst timing but everyone has said that they couldn't stand in his way and hopefully we'll be able to get way more for the Boyle money in the summer than we would have on the last day of the winter window.

Really? You don't think signing a reliable goalie, and a really direct player like Forrest wouldn't have got us into the Top 6 and a crack at qualifying for Europe?

We reverted to type and signed a young (doubtless cheap) loan player on the last day of the window - if that's not a fools errand with a whiff of desperation on top, I don't know what is?

[Pretty Boy]

The obvious question to your first question is to actually play football rather than sitting on the bench 95% of the time.

Plenty players, particularly keepers, are happy with that at a certain point in their career if it means a guaranteed wage though.

Mark Gillespie left Motherwell to be 3rd or 4th choice at Newcastle. Tom Heaton is 3rd choice at Man Utd, Rob Green went to Chelsea and Scott Carson to Man City when they could have still played at Championship level. Closer to home David Mitchell gave up 1st team football at Clyde to be 3rd choice at Hibs.

[#2 Double Tap]

Who’s buying?

I dunno how you want me to respond to that, or what kinda point you are making?

we aint up for sale, but if we were gordon could turn a profit on what he paid.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Of all the clubs available to buy in Scotland Hibs were and still are the absolute pick. More than any club in this country we have the potential to be bigger and better than we are, not only on the pitch but off it as well. In the few years after 2016 for a brief period it was made clear just what is possible, a season where we averaged 18,000 was something I never thought I would see in my lifetime, so much so I posted several times that folk should make the most of it, because this being Hibs it was never going to last and so it has proved. But without a doubt anybody looking to buy a club has to have looked at that and been of the opinion that this is without doubt a club that can grow substantially in the right hands.

That potential remains and could be sustained if Ron Gordon can find a way to get us to challenge consistently, something no owner has managed since Harry Swan. I'm not talking about winning the league, Mr Bosman killed any idea of that stone dead, but being 3rd one season out of every three, winning a cup every 5.5 years instead of our current average of every 15.5 years and making the group stages of one of what is now two possible European competitions a couple of times a decade is not asking the impossible.

The elephant in Ron Gordon's room is that this club shares a city with a club who compete with us for a finite pool of potential support and I am reminded of a Celtic fan's reaction when Fergus McCann at a Q & A session said he was going to build the club one of the best stadiums in Europe, to which he replied "I would be happy if you could just build us the best stadium in Glasgow"

Ron Gordon is not entirely to blame for what is becoming a depressing theme at this club, but if we do not put a stop to what is an all too frequent occurrence in this young century then he is fighting a losing battle from the off. What kid with a choice to make is going to pick a club that more and more frequently gets it's arse kicked by it's biggest rival in huge games when that rival is just as close on the bus and he or she can go and support them instead?

This summer is huge for the club, if the owner or his manager for that matter, think they can chug along signing kids from Norway and youngsters on loan from the EFL and make the sort of challenge we need to next year they are deluded, the only way that is going to work is if we also sign proven and experienced players to help them on the pitch and nurture them off it. The only bright spot at the moment is that hopefully we will see the return of Nisbet, hopefully an improved Nisbet, Doig and Magennis. But make no mistake, get this wrong have another season like this one and it will be a hell of a long road back.

[superfurryhibby]

There’s only really two answers for someone with no emotional ties to the club or the area to want to buy a Scottish football club.

1. They just really love football and want to be involved, this just happens to be the level they can afford.

2. They think there’s unrealised value in Scottish football relative to other countries and thinks eventually the club will be worth a good deal more than it cost.

As far as I can tell, his motivation is the latter. He could be right, and there’s growth to be had. Whether he has the ability to both big Hibs up and influence a positive direction for the wider game here to realise a possibly bigger return on his investment remains to be seen…

I think you are right in what you say.

However, Gordon has been shown to have underestimated the cost of building Hibs into an outfit that can sustain high league finishes. The growth that we all want comes at a significant financial cost. We know that some money has been invested in players, but the sale of Boyle and the lack of serious investment in the first team in January, or at least the level required to turn around an ailing season was a big worry for me.

I have no real concerns about the Ron the con stuff, but I think we as fans need to be asking where the club is going.

The sale of Boyle and the nice fat fee must be offset against the loss of revenue associated with punting your only goal scoring threat, the loss of money from out ****ty league finish and missing out on the European qualification. Just wait until the season ticket sales drop for next season too.

At the end of Gordon's second season the club are still trophy less and arguably no further forward (actually regressed ).

[jacomo]

There’s only really two answers for someone with no emotional ties to the club or the area to want to buy a Scottish football club.

1. They just really love football and want to be involved, this just happens to be the level they can afford.

2. They think there’s unrealised value in Scottish football relative to other countries and thinks eventually the club will be worth a good deal more than it cost.

As far as I can tell, his motivation is the latter. He could be right, and there’s growth to be had. Whether he has the ability to both big Hibs up and influence a positive direction for the wider game here to realise a possibly bigger return on his investment remains to be seen…


According to Ron, both of these are true.

He’s a self-made guy and a very rich man… he fancied making an investment where he could have some fun and do something different. Of course, that would mean a football club with potential to improve.

He’s proud of his Scottish roots and so he looked for a club here.

It didn’t cost him a lot to acquire a controlling stake in Hibs, in the grand scheme of things. And we DO have a lot of potential, if only someone can realise it.

[Rumble de Thump]

This is a great question and one he was asked plenty of times when he bought the club. He gave an explanation every time he was asked. The info is still readily available online.

[superfurryhibby]

This is a great question and one he was asked plenty of times when he bought the club. He gave an explanation every time he was asked. The info is still readily available online.

Do Ron's on line answers address the events that have taken place since he bought the club? I suspect they don't.

People can promise the earth, but when they don't deliver, why would you settle for what was said two seasons ago?

[SlickShoes]

Do Ron's on line answers address the events that have taken place since he bought the club? I suspect they don't.

People can promise the earth, but when they don't deliver, why would you settle for what was said two seasons ago?

Because the answer to this question remains the same, what has happened since does not affect the decision to buy hibs?

Did he promise that he would make Hibs what we all want them to be? No but he wants to try.

[superfurryhibby]

Because the answer to this question remains the same, what has happened since does not affect the decision to buy hibs?

Did he promise that he would make Hibs what we all want them to be? No but he wants to try.

So, we just uncritically carry on handing over our money and don't take into account how events have panned out since his ownership begun, because we know he wants to make Hibs a success?

The question is legitimate.

[SlickShoes]

So, we just uncritically carry on handing over our money and don't take into account how events have panned out since his ownership begun, because we know he wants to make Hibs a success?

The question is legitimate.

What are you on about? The question is "why did he buy hibs?" and he's answered it many times.

I think you probably want to ask him a different question.

[Scotty Leither]

Because the answer to this question remains the same, what has happened since does not affect the decision to buy hibs?

Did he promise that he would make Hibs what we all want them to be? No but he wants to try.

A year ago he said he wanted us to be the "Atletico Madrid of Scotland":

Link: https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/atletico-madrid-of-scotland-ron-gordon-talks-of-his-hibs-ambitions-and-how-challenging-rangers-and-celtic-is-something-club-can-target-3246469

Last month, he also wants us to be like Seville.

Link: https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/ron-gordon-reveals-hibs-sevilla-23501892

When he took the club over, there was talk of an eventual league challenge, he also talked about upping (doubling?) the wage budget.

A whole load of talk, when the TEAM on the park, if he doesn't realise it, have forwards that can't score and the least creative midfield we've witnessed in a long time.

His son has came out of nowhere to be head of recruitment, which has been the main point of discussion on this thread and many others, that it's simply not good enough.

Still, big screens and all that, eh?

[superfurryhibby]

What are you on about? The question is "why did he buy hibs?" and he's answered it many times.

I think you probably want to ask him a different question.

Go on, tell me what I want to ask him.

Actually, it was a question aimed at us, the supporters. I didn't expect Ron to read the thread and pop up with an answer, since he has told us why so many times already.

[Lago]

On another thread this question was posed and no one seems able to answer it. In fact, it’s being avoided, like a very large elephant in the room.

Someone said that there is no one out there who would buy Hibs, which I found ironic given that Gordon did just that two years ago ( or less)

It’s not a hard question, but it seems like we fans are unable to even go there.

I can understand why a wealthy Hibs supporting business person ( like Harry Swan, Tom Hart, Kenny Waugh) might fancy the status and profile owning Hibs would bring. I get why a community minded, mega rich guy with family ties to the club, like STF, might get involved.

I just don’t see what people with no ties to the city or the club would find appealing about owning Hibs?

If they have a vision of trophies, playing regularly in Europe etc, then maybe they need a wake up call in terms of what kind of investment is needed to achieve that?
But clubs the world over are owned by people with no ties with them. Look south of the border.

[Lago]

he bought us for an absolute bargain, if he was to put us up for sale he would make a profit.
You think 😂😂

[Squealing pig]

The McGinn cash 🤷*♂️

[Lago]

Go on, tell me what I want to ask him.

Actually, it was a question aimed at us, the supporters. I didn't expect Ron to read the thread and pop up with an answer, since he has told us why so many times already.
So you know the answer?

[Cropley10]

So, we just uncritically carry on handing over our money and don't take into account how events have panned out since his ownership begun, because we know he wants to make Hibs a success?

The question is legitimate.

Absolutely legitimate. Club’s been completely changed top to bottom.

[Baldy Foghorn]

He wanted in to Scottish Football. Tried to buy another club before, then the timing, in that the other club said no, and STF was willing to sell. Fortunate for RG.

[leith lynx]

He wanted in to Scottish Football. Tried to buy another club before, then the timing, in that the other club said no, and STF was willing to sell. Fortunate for RG.

Do you know who the other club was?

[Bridge hibs]

Do you know who the other club was?Dundee Utd I think

[Baldy Foghorn]

Dundee Utd I think

Correct

[Pretty Boy]

So you know the answer?

Do you just accept every answer you are given without challenge?

There is the PR answer given repeatedly by Gordon publicly about bringing success and whatever else, there is the 'Ron the con' accusations and somewhere in that vast gap in the middle lies the truth.

[May21/05/216]

He is going to sell the ground to property developers then move down to Spartans to ground share

Sent from my SM-A908B using Tapatalk

[sleeping giant]

Do you just accept every answer you are given without challenge?

There is the PR answer given repeatedly by Gordon publicly about bringing success and whatever else, there is the 'Ron the con' accusations and somewhere in that vast gap in the middle lies the truth.

Somewhere in the middle of those 2 parameters ?
Seriously ?

[madhatter]

He is going to sell the ground to property developers then move down to Spartans to ground share

Sent from my SM-A908B using Tapatalk

Do they like big TVs?

[May21/05/216]

Do they like big TVs?Yes and for what I'm hearing they're upgrading the hospitality

Sent from my SM-A908B using Tapatalk

[madhatter]

Yes and for what I'm hearing they're upgrading the hospitality

Sent from my SM-A908B using Tapatalk

And adding solar panels before selling ground to property developers...?

[A Hi-Bee]

It's a really dumb question that only the man could answer, so the question would need to be directed at the only one who could answer it.

:greengrin

[Pretty Boy]

Somewhere in the middle of those 2 parameters ?
Seriously ?

Well yes.

I don't believe his stock answer and I don't believe he's here to diddle us then cut and run so by that measure whatever his reason for being here lies somewhere between those 2 options.

[Carheenlea]

Im not sure why anyone would buy a football club. You don’t get a lot of thanks for it.

I rather doubt Ron Gordon has any ulterior motives or is looking to make a quick buck. A successful businessman with the financial clout to be able to afford to buy a club like Hibs, but he’s not going to pump multiple millions in without any return. Suppose the idea is to increase our revenue streams in order to up the spend, but spending money we don’t have won’t be his way (and rightly so).

He’s bought Hibs probably because he can.

[WestEndHibee]

There’s only really two answers for someone with no emotional ties to the club or the area to want to buy a Scottish football club.

1. They just really love football and want to be involved, this just happens to be the level they can afford.

2. They think there’s unrealised value in Scottish football relative to other countries and thinks eventually the club will be worth a good deal more than it cost.

As far as I can tell, his motivation is the latter. He could be right, and there’s growth to be had. Whether he has the ability to both big Hibs up and influence a positive direction for the wider game here to realise a possibly bigger return on his investment remains to be seen…


Reckon this captures it. could possibly be a little bit of motivation 1 but seems like its mainly 2. Think we'll find out a lot about his ability this summer (either way).

[WestEndHibee]

Really? You don't think signing a reliable goalie, and a really direct player like Forrest wouldn't have got us into the Top 6 and a crack at qualifying for Europe?

We reverted to type and signed a young (doubtless cheap) loan player on the last day of the window - if that's not a fools errand with a whiff of desperation on top, I don't know what is?

Notice the word "guarantee" and I referred to the group stages which is the only real way of making money in Europe. Would signing both these players have guaranteed we would win the Scottish cup?

If it isn't a certainty then its a risk and how much risk do you want to take? If the Boyle money is frittered away on the last day of the window on overpriced average players and there's no more to invest in the Summer then we'd rightly be up in arms. A transfer fee is hard to come by so there's no way it should be spent on the last day of the window leaving nothing for (hopefully) well thought out investment in the summer. The jasper signing wasn't good enough to replace Boyle this season but would be relatively costless and risk free, plus he managed to get us into the semi final which will have delivered some return on a small investment.

[basehibby]

First up we have to acknowledge that Gordon's interest was to buy A Scottish Football Club. Hibs just happened to be available at the time as well as being in great shape with all infrastructure in place, a healthy support base, fine tradition and going for a reasonable price - altogether making Hibs a no brainer for anyone wanting to buy a Scottish Football Club at that time.
So why a Scottish Football Club in particular??? I think we are all aware of RG's Scottish ancestry. Add to that that Scotland remains part of the UK - which may be attractive to some because of wider markets, business opportunities and residential rights that may arise as a result. Also as has been pointed out, Scottish Football could be argued to be undervalued/poorly marketed at this time - so potential may exist for gaining on an astute investment.
Which leaves one question: why would ANYONE want to buy ANY football club at all??? This is in large part a mystery if viewed purely from the POV of making money. There could be other motivations though such as prestige, profile, or just craving the thrill of being at the sharp end of running a sporting institution and the potential for glory and agrandisement that comes with it. There could be other motivations as already pointed out in this thread - one of which that should not be overlooked is providing your offspring with a particular character forming kind of challenge that could set them up for life while also providing a means of strengthening existing father-son bonds.
These are all possible motivations for buying Hibs and any combination of them could apply. Of course there is also the possibility of setting up an international money laundering scam with poppy stealing as a sideline - although id like to think that Farmer, RP et al ruled that one out with the benefit of our near neighbours' recent "near-death" experience.

[WestEndHibee]

Of all the clubs available to buy in Scotland Hibs were and still are the absolute pick. More than any club in this country we have the potential to be bigger and better than we are, not only on the pitch but off it as well. In the few years after 2016 for a brief period it was made clear just what is possible, a season where we averaged 18,000 was something I never thought I would see in my lifetime, so much so I posted several times that folk should make the most of it, because this being Hibs it was never going to last and so it has proved. But without a doubt anybody looking to buy a club has to have looked at that and been of the opinion that this is without doubt a club that can grow substantially in the right hands.

That potential remains and could be sustained if Ron Gordon can find a way to get us to challenge consistently, something no owner has managed since Harry Swan. I'm not talking about winning the league, Mr Bosman killed any idea of that stone dead, but being 3rd one season out of every three, winning a cup every 5.5 years instead of our current average of every 15.5 years and making the group stages of one of what is now two possible European competitions a couple of times a decade is not asking the impossible.

The elephant in Ron Gordon's room is that this club shares a city with a club who compete with us for a finite pool of potential support and I am reminded of a Celtic fan's reaction when Fergus McCann at a Q & A session said he was going to build the club one of the best stadiums in Europe, to which he replied "I would be happy if you could just build us the best stadium in Glasgow"

Ron Gordon is not entirely to blame for what is becoming a depressing theme at this club, but if we do not put a stop to what is an all too frequent occurrence in this young century then he is fighting a losing battle from the off. What kid with a choice to make is going to pick a club that more and more frequently gets it's arse kicked by it's biggest rival in huge games when that rival is just as close on the bus and he or she can go and support them instead?

This summer is huge for the club, if the owner or his manager for that matter, think they can chug along signing kids from Norway and youngsters on loan from the EFL and make the sort of challenge we need to next year they are deluded, the only way that is going to work is if we also sign proven and experienced players to help them on the pitch and nurture them off it. The only bright spot at the moment is that hopefully we will see the return of Nisbet, hopefully an improved Nisbet, Doig and Magennis. But make no mistake, get this wrong have another season like this one and it will be a hell of a long road back.

Spot on.

[WestEndHibee]

First up we have to acknowledge that Gordon's interest was to buy A Scottish Football Club. Hibs just happened to be available at the time as well as being in great shape with all infrastructure in place, a healthy support base, fine tradition and going for a reasonable price - altogether a no brainer for anyone wanting to buy a Scottish Football Club.
So why a Scottish Football Club in particular??? I think we are all aware of RG's Scottish ancestry. Add to that that Scotland remains part of the UK - which may be attractive to some because of wider markets, business opportunities and residential rights that may arise as a result.
Which leaves one question: why would ANYONE want to buy ANY football club at all??? This is in large part a mystery if viewed purely from the POV of making money. There could be other motivations though such as prestige, profile, or just craving the thrill of being at the sharp end of running a sporting institution and the potential for glory and agrandisement that comes with it. There could be other motivations as already pointed out in this thread - one of which that should not be overlooked is providing your offspring with a particular character forming kind of challenge that could set them up for life while also providing a means of strengthening existing father-son bonds.
These are all possible motivations for buying Hibs and any combination of them could apply. Of course there is also the possibility of setting up an international money laundering scam with poppy stealing as a sideline - althoughid like to think that Farmer, RP et al ruled that one out with the benefit of our near neighbours' hindsight.


There's also the other option taken from the plot of Succession...

Ron's a big Jambo and his son accidentally bought the wrong team as a birthday present :greengrin.

[#2 Double Tap]

You think 😂😂

you think you could buy hibs for 6m?

or you think gordon would sell for 6m?

[Jones28]

I dunno how you want me to respond to that, or what kinda point you are making?

we aint up for sale, but if we were gordon could turn a profit on what he paid.

My point is that you can only make a profit on something that someone or multiple people want to purchase.

[IberianHibernian]

What wuld have happened if Ron Gordon hadn`t been interested in buying Hibs ? I seem to remember STF saying Gordon was the best of several possible buyers ,

[Scotty Leither]

Of all the clubs available to buy in Scotland Hibs were and still are the absolute pick. More than any club in this country we have the potential to be bigger and better than we are, not only on the pitch but off it as well. In the few years after 2016 for a brief period it was made clear just what is possible, a season where we averaged 18,000 was something I never thought I would see in my lifetime, so much so I posted several times that folk should make the most of it, because this being Hibs it was never going to last and so it has proved. But without a doubt anybody looking to buy a club has to have looked at that and been of the opinion that this is without doubt a club that can grow substantially in the right hands.

That potential remains and could be sustained if Ron Gordon can find a way to get us to challenge consistently, something no owner has managed since Harry Swan. I'm not talking about winning the league, Mr Bosman killed any idea of that stone dead, but being 3rd one season out of every three, winning a cup every 5.5 years instead of our current average of every 15.5 years and making the group stages of one of what is now two possible European competitions a couple of times a decade is not asking the impossible.

The elephant in Ron Gordon's room is that this club shares a city with a club who compete with us for a finite pool of potential support and I am reminded of a Celtic fan's reaction when Fergus McCann at a Q & A session said he was going to build the club one of the best stadiums in Europe, to which he replied "I would be happy if you could just build us the best stadium in Glasgow"

Ron Gordon is not entirely to blame for what is becoming a depressing theme at this club, but if we do not put a stop to what is an all too frequent occurrence in this young century then he is fighting a losing battle from the off. What kid with a choice to make is going to pick a club that more and more frequently gets it's arse kicked by it's biggest rival in huge games when that rival is just as close on the bus and he or she can go and support them instead?

This summer is huge for the club, if the owner or his manager for that matter, think they can chug along signing kids from Norway and youngsters on loan from the EFL and make the sort of challenge we need to next year they are deluded, the only way that is going to work is if we also sign proven and experienced players to help them on the pitch and nurture them off it. The only bright spot at the moment is that hopefully we will see the return of Nisbet, hopefully an improved Nisbet, Doig and Magennis. But make no mistake, get this wrong have another season like this one and it will be a hell of a long road back.

Nailed it stone dead pal, Well done.

[JXM73]

Property development after his prick of a son has learned how to asset atrip....

[madhatter]

Property development after his prick of a son has learned how to asset atrip....

Did they forget to send you an Easter egg?

[Wakeyhibee]

Regardless of his motives, the elephant in the room is modern day football. Competition is stifled in Scotland, the gulf is yawning and has been for 20/30 years. Strangely Hibs are better supported now than under better times in the early 70s and before that when more competition existed.

Totally disenfranchised with it, not Hibs just what we operate in.

[jacomo]

What wuld have happened if Ron Gordon hadn`t been interested in buying Hibs ? I seem to remember STF saying Gordon was the best of several possible buyers ,


He’d have given his shares - for free - to Simon Pia and we would now be looking forward, somehow, to a Champions League final, having already established an unassailable lead in the league.

[Waxy]

A year ago he said he wanted us to be the "Atletico Madrid of Scotland":

Link: https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/atletico-madrid-of-scotland-ron-gordon-talks-of-his-hibs-ambitions-and-how-challenging-rangers-and-celtic-is-something-club-can-target-3246469

Last month, he also wants us to be like Seville.

Link: https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/ron-gordon-reveals-hibs-sevilla-23501892

When he took the club over, there was talk of an eventual league challenge, he also talked about upping (doubling?) the wage budget.

A whole load of talk, when the TEAM on the park, if he doesn't realise it, have forwards that can't score and the least creative midfield we've witnessed in a long time.

His son has came out of nowhere to be head of recruitment, which has been the main point of discussion on this thread and many others, that it's simply not good enough.

Still, big screens and all that, eh?
Why then have our results been like Hospitalet?

[bigwheel]

I don’t know why he has bought us - but he’s certainly stamping his personality on us - and not in a good way . He’s turned a progressive football club into a shambles in quite a quick time . I get he’s trying to do the right things - but he has steered us over some of the poorest football and non footballing decisions we’ve made in decades - up there with Petrie’s worst times ..and nowhere near his good times ..

He better learn soon or he can **** right off …..

[JamesHFC]

How much did he actually pay for us?

[B.H.F.C]

I don’t know why he has bought us - but he’s certainly stamping his personality on us - and not in a good way . He’s turned a progressive football club into a shambles in quite a quick time . I get he’s trying to do the right things - but he has steered us over some of the poorest football and non footballing decisions we’ve made in decades - up there with Petrie’s worst times ..and nowhere near his good times ..

He better learn soon or he can **** right off …..

Pretty much sums up what I think.

I don’t think his intentions are bad, but he’s making a hell of a mess.

The CEO appointment had to be a strong one and it’s been anything but. I think that is probably more important than the managerial position in terms of fixing things.

[Jones28]

Property development after his prick of a son has learned how to asset atrip....

You even post like trolls would post 15 ****ing years ago. Go and give it up?

[donno]

CorrectI thought it was Mad Vlad who wanted Dundee United, but was knocked back, then bought hearts.
The rumour I heard is that Ron wanted hearts, but budge turned him down.
Strange things happen in football. Another rumour is that Abramovich was buying Spurs, but as he flew over London in a helicopter, he saw the Chelsea ground, and decided to buy them instead.
My personal opinion, which is probably rubbish. Is that Ron saw a general growth in football in Scotland. Increased revenue in TV, advertising etc. So wanted in on the ground floor.

Sent from my JNY-LX1 using Tapatalk

[Jones28]

I don’t know why he has bought us - but he’s certainly stamping his personality on us - and not in a good way . He’s turned a progressive football club into a shambles in quite a quick time . I get he’s trying to do the right things - but he has steered us over some of the poorest football and non footballing decisions we’ve made in decades - up there with Petrie’s worst times ..and nowhere near his good times ..

He better learn soon or he can **** right off …..

His personality?

Come on, I’m all for calling out what needs called out but that’s just **** patter

[bigwheel]

His personality?

Come on, I’m all for calling out what needs called out but that’s just **** patter

Aye, because that’s the real key part of my post right enough…. Shakes head *


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Baldy Foghorn]

I thought it was Mad Vlad who wanted Dundee United, but was knocked back, then bought hearts.
The rumour I heard is that Ron wanted hearts, but budge turned him down.
Strange things happen in football. Another rumour is that Abramovich was buying Spurs, but as he flew over London in a helicopter, he saw the Chelsea ground, and decided to buy them instead.
My personal opinion, which is probably rubbish. Is that Ron saw a general growth in football in Scotland. Increased revenue in TV, advertising etc. So wanted in on the ground floor.

Sent from my JNY-LX1 using Tapatalk

Romanov may well have tried, I never take any notice of them. RG definitely tried to buy DU, maybe 3-4 years ago, long after Romanov, if indeed he tried

[JXM73]

You even post like trolls would post 15 ****ing years ago. Go and give it up?

15 years ago? Nursery's internet wasnt very good, ron the con really has you all moist and excited for a three bedroom apartment eh?

[Allant1981]

15 years ago? Nursery's internet wasnt very good, ron the con really has you all moist and excited for a three bedroom apartment eh?

So clearly not a fan then!

[matty_f]

Will no doubt get called a sycophant or whatever for this, but **** it, it's what I think so here goes:

I don't think Ron Gordon's answer to the question "why Hibs?" is that far from the truth - I think he played on the Scottish connections a bit more than he needed to but ultimately I think he wanted into football, sees an opportunity to make some money, and Hibs were the right club at the right time for him and us.

He can only make money if we are successful. Full stop. Anything other than success on the pitch costs him money and is a loss making venture for him. At best, he'll be able to recoup what he's spent if and when he sells, if we're not successful, if he successfully and adequately upgrades the stadium and training centre so that the fixed assets give him more value than he bought it for.

Spending the Boyle money - Boyle left almost at the end of the window, we were never going to be able to get a like for like replacement in for him. In fact, when we signed Boyle he was miles off the player that would leave. The young laddie that we brought in on loan also was brought in with an option to buy if we want him (as was the other young laddie Rocky, and Henderson who is definitely staying). The money hasn't been spent, the manager has already spoken about meeting targets for next season, presumably they will cost money to recruit whether that's in transfer fees or wages.

We've used the partnership with Charleston Battery to send a signing on loan to develop (and presumably get the necessary games for a work permit in the UK?). Easily forgotten though, if you wanted to.

The wage bill has increased, that's despite the impact of covid on the club - it's in the accounts for anyone that wants to look.

This notion that we're being tight or thrifty on the playing squad doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Melkersen, Nisbet, Hauge, Tait, Mackay off the top of my head all commanded six figure transfer or development fees.

Has it all been an immediate success - absolutely not, but that doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile long term strategy. Remember that we also went into the close of the transfer window with Nisbet, Doidge and Scott as options up front, it was presumably not the intention to have them get injured and rely on Melkersen so soon. We also had Magennis getting back to fitness before his new injury just as he was due to return, and we probably didn't expect to lose Porteous for 4 games to compound matters.

This has been a horrible season, with some serious mitigation behind it, and while I think it is healthy to be critical and have some healthy cynicism of the board and owner, equally you can't ignore facts because they don't suit the argument.

[cabbageandribs1875]

I thought it was Mad Vlad who wanted Dundee United, but was knocked back, then bought hearts.
The rumour I heard is that Ron wanted hearts, but budge turned him down.
Strange things happen in football. Another rumour is that Abramovich was buying Spurs, but as he flew over London in a helicopter, he saw the Chelsea ground, and decided to buy them instead.
My personal opinion, which is probably rubbish. Is that Ron saw a general growth in football in Scotland. Increased revenue in TV, advertising etc. So wanted in on the ground floor.

Sent from my JNY-LX1 using Tapatalk


iirc Dunfermline also knocked back Romanov


i could be mistaken

[IberianHibernian]

Regardless of his motives, the elephant in the room is modern day football. Competition is stifled in Scotland, the gulf is yawning and has been for 20/30 years. Strangely Hibs are better supported now than under better times in the early 70s and before that when more competition existed.

Totally disenfranchised with it, not Hibs just what we operate in.Very true . Bigger crowds at ER ( and Tynecastle ) than when we had much better teams ( Hibs anyway , Hearts were rubbish most if not all of 70s at least ) . Edinburgh`s grown and is prosperous and both clubs have benefitted ( crowds have gone up in Edinburgh but not in Motherwell , Dundee etc ) . On a wider point , I think most of points that alienate fans are general problems - TV , kick off times , lack of competition , commercialism , recently COVID etc etc

[#2 Double Tap]

Will no doubt get called a sycophant or whatever for this, but **** it, it's what I think so here goes:

I don't think Ron Gordon's answer to the question "why Hibs?" is that far from the truth - I think he played on the Scottish connections a bit more than he needed to but ultimately I think he wanted into football, sees an opportunity to make some money, and Hibs were the right club at the right time for him and us.

He can only make money if we are successful. Full stop. Anything other than success on the pitch costs him money and is a loss making venture for him. At best, he'll be able to recoup what he's spent if and when he sells, if we're not successful, if he successfully and adequately upgrades the stadium and training centre so that the fixed assets give him more value than he bought it for.

Spending the Boyle money - Boyle left almost at the end of the window, we were never going to be able to get a like for like replacement in for him. In fact, when we signed Boyle he was miles off the player that would leave. The young laddie that we brought in on loan also was brought in with an option to buy if we want him (as was the other young laddie Rocky, and Henderson who is definitely staying). The money hasn't been spent, the manager has already spoken about meeting targets for next season, presumably they will cost money to recruit whether that's in transfer fees or wages.

We've used the partnership with Charleston Battery to send a signing on loan to develop (and presumably get the necessary games for a work permit in the UK?). Easily forgotten though, if you wanted to.

The wage bill has increased, that's despite the impact of covid on the club - it's in the accounts for anyone that wants to look.

This notion that we're being tight or thrifty on the playing squad doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Melkersen, Nisbet, Hauge, Tait, Mackay off the top of my head all commanded six figure transfer or development fees.

Has it all been an immediate success - absolutely not, but that doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile long term strategy. Remember that we also went into the close of the transfer window with Nisbet, Doidge and Scott as options up front, it was presumably not the intention to have them get injured and rely on Melkersen so soon. We also had Magennis getting back to fitness before his new injury just as he was due to return, and we probably didn't expect to lose Porteous for 4 games to compound matters.

This has been a horrible season, with some serious mitigation behind it, and while I think it is healthy to be critical and have some healthy cynicism of the board and owner, equally you can't ignore facts because they don't suit the argument.

thoughts like that are why you have a top pod cast!

[IberianHibernian]

Will no doubt get called a sycophant or whatever for this, but **** it, it's what I think so here goes:

I don't think Ron Gordon's answer to the question "why Hibs?" is that far from the truth - I think he played on the Scottish connections a bit more than he needed to but ultimately I think he wanted into football, sees an opportunity to make some money, and Hibs were the right club at the right time for him and us.

He can only make money if we are successful. Full stop. Anything other than success on the pitch costs him money and is a loss making venture for him. At best, he'll be able to recoup what he's spent if and when he sells, if we're not successful, if he successfully and adequately upgrades the stadium and training centre so that the fixed assets give him more value than he bought it for.

Spending the Boyle money - Boyle left almost at the end of the window, we were never going to be able to get a like for like replacement in for him. In fact, when we signed Boyle he was miles off the player that would leave. The young laddie that we brought in on loan also was brought in with an option to buy if we want him (as was the other young laddie Rocky, and Henderson who is definitely staying). The money hasn't been spent, the manager has already spoken about meeting targets for next season, presumably they will cost money to recruit whether that's in transfer fees or wages.

We've used the partnership with Charleston Battery to send a signing on loan to develop (and presumably get the necessary games for a work permit in the UK?). Easily forgotten though, if you wanted to.

The wage bill has increased, that's despite the impact of covid on the club - it's in the accounts for anyone that wants to look.

This notion that we're being tight or thrifty on the playing squad doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Melkersen, Nisbet, Hauge, Tait, Mackay off the top of my head all commanded six figure transfer or development fees.

Has it all been an immediate success - absolutely not, but that doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile long term strategy. Remember that we also went into the close of the transfer window with Nisbet, Doidge and Scott as options up front, it was presumably not the intention to have them get injured and rely on Melkersen so soon. We also had Magennis getting back to fitness before his new injury just as he was due to return, and we probably didn't expect to lose Porteous for 4 games to compound matters.

This has been a horrible season, with some serious mitigation behind it, and while I think it is healthy to be critical and have some healthy cynicism of the board and owner, equally you can't ignore facts because they don't suit the argument.Great post . Not expecting many positive posts after losing a semi final against Hearts but getting tiresome reading constant negative posts ( talking about bad signings but not good ones , ignoring cup runs as though they`ve been a normal in our history , refusing to believe any investment in stadium etc might benefit team too , real understanding of injury problems this season etc etc ) but a bit of realism might help . Maybe that`s been club`s biggest problem - not communicating enough with fans about plans though I doubt previous setups explained details of signings , management , etc either .

[bigwheel]

Will no doubt get called a sycophant or whatever for this, but **** it, it's what I think so here goes:

I don't think Ron Gordon's answer to the question "why Hibs?" is that far from the truth - I think he played on the Scottish connections a bit more than he needed to but ultimately I think he wanted into football, sees an opportunity to make some money, and Hibs were the right club at the right time for him and us.

He can only make money if we are successful. Full stop. Anything other than success on the pitch costs him money and is a loss making venture for him. At best, he'll be able to recoup what he's spent if and when he sells, if we're not successful, if he successfully and adequately upgrades the stadium and training centre so that the fixed assets give him more value than he bought it for.

Spending the Boyle money - Boyle left almost at the end of the window, we were never going to be able to get a like for like replacement in for him. In fact, when we signed Boyle he was miles off the player that would leave. The young laddie that we brought in on loan also was brought in with an option to buy if we want him (as was the other young laddie Rocky, and Henderson who is definitely staying). The money hasn't been spent, the manager has already spoken about meeting targets for next season, presumably they will cost money to recruit whether that's in transfer fees or wages.

We've used the partnership with Charleston Battery to send a signing on loan to develop (and presumably get the necessary games for a work permit in the UK?). Easily forgotten though, if you wanted to.

The wage bill has increased, that's despite the impact of covid on the club - it's in the accounts for anyone that wants to look.

This notion that we're being tight or thrifty on the playing squad doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Melkersen, Nisbet, Hauge, Tait, Mackay off the top of my head all commanded six figure transfer or development fees.

Has it all been an immediate success - absolutely not, but that doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile long term strategy. Remember that we also went into the close of the transfer window with Nisbet, Doidge and Scott as options up front, it was presumably not the intention to have them get injured and rely on Melkersen so soon. We also had Magennis getting back to fitness before his new injury just as he was due to return, and we probably didn't expect to lose Porteous for 4 games to compound matters.

This has been a horrible season, with some serious mitigation behind it, and while I think it is healthy to be critical and have some healthy cynicism of the board and owner, equally you can't ignore facts because they don't suit the argument.

He has spent money alright, but does it look remotely like a good set of investments? I’m ignoring those who are suggesting he doesn’t have the right intentions..so I agree on that part. And yes, he does see Hibs as a financial investment ..how depressing is that btw !!

But this season is not just about losing Boyle and a set of Injuries or suspensions. At its core it is about two terrible transfer windows, an ego based decision to replace our manager and an even worse choice of replacement. Gordon has led this and has had a shocker of a season. Since he has arrived he has allowed people who care about our club to be driven off the staff, almost no one remains from when he took over, and brought in many people who have no understanding of what our club is into senior roles. He has had an absolute mare…..


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[JXM73]

So clearly not a fan then!

Neither a fan or a hater, take more than fancy tvs and a lick of paint... time will tell but first team failings speak for themselves thus far...

[matty_f]

He has spent money alright, but does it look remotely like a good set of investments? I’m ignoring those who are suggesting he doesn’t have the right intentions..so I agree on that part. And yes, he does see Hibs as a financial investment ..how depressing is that btw !!

But this season is not just about losing Boyle and a set of Injuries or suspensions. At its core it is about two terrible transfer windows, an ego based decision to replace our manager and an even worse choice of replacement. Gordon has led this and has had a shocker of a season. Since he has arrived he has allowed people who care about our club to be driven off the staff, almost no one remains from when he took over, and brought in many people who have no understanding of what our club is into senior roles. He has had an absolute mare…..


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The jury is out on a lot of the spend - Melkersen, Hauge, Delferriere (sp?), Doyle Hayes (still just 22), Henderson, Tait and Mackay, Mitchell, and Jasper may turn out to be a fantastic use of money - have they been an immediate return then absolutely not.

I agree that losing people close to the club (Sue McLernon and the Millars, for example) causes issues and takes some of the 'soul' of the club away - people that cared deeply for the club and were there to tell others how much it means.

I'm not a fan of that approach, I think there's always a time to look at who's performing and who isn't but you also have to recognise that there are some less tangible benefits of what people bring to the table, and I think the club have lost sight of that a bit.

I don't think the board have got everything right, in fact I would say that there's strong evidence of stuff that's been very badly handled.

It's just not polarised one way or the other - there's good and bad but I would say that we're clearly trying to deliver what Gordon has said he'll deliver, we've been absolutely humped with injuries and there are still questions being asked over Ross' sacking, but ultimately they made a decision and acted on it, and it was a decision that a large and vocal section of the club pushed for.

Finishing bottom 6 and handing Hearts a massive financial advantage of European football is a huge setback for Gordon, it makes everyone's job at the club harder. Ultimately he's responsible for it as owner and I'm sure he'll be reviewing what's gone wrong with Ben Kensell.

[bigwheel]

The jury is out on a lot of the spend - Melkersen, Hauge, Delferriere (sp?), Doyle Hayes (still just 22), Henderson, Tait and Mackay, Mitchell, and Jasper may turn out to be a fantastic use of money - have they been an immediate return then absolutely not.

I agree that losing people close to the club (Sue McLernon and the Millars, for example) causes issues and takes some of the 'soul' of the club away - people that cared deeply for the club and were there to tell others how much it means.

I'm not a fan of that approach, I think there's always a time to look at who's performing and who isn't but you also have to recognise that there are some less tangible benefits of what people bring to the table, and I think the club have lost sight of that a bit.

I don't think the board have got everything right, in fact I would say that there's strong evidence of stuff that's been very badly handled.

It's just not polarised one way or the other - there's good and bad but I would say that we're clearly trying to deliver what Gordon has said he'll deliver, we've been absolutely humped with injuries and there are still questions being asked over Ross' sacking, but ultimately they made a decision and acted on it, and it was a decision that a large and vocal section of the club pushed for.

Finishing bottom 6 and handing Hearts a massive financial advantage of European football is a huge setback for Gordon, it makes everyone's job at the club harder. Ultimately he's responsible for it as owner and I'm sure he'll be reviewing what's gone wrong with Ben Kensell.

After that list , Matty, which I agree with, there’s little left to celebrate…his actions, other than commercially, have almost all taken us backwards. The January window, was widely trumpeted as critically, after the summer debacle . It seems to have been used mainly for the future rather than for now . A bonkers decision, which has hurt us badly this season.

And what of the “Deloitte review” . Interesting that we have heard nothing from that . From rumours I hear Gordon was pushing for a no relegation proposal - a tearing up of the traditions of our game - and a move towards an American style franchise system top league ..no wonder they’ve been quiet on that ..

Our club is a shadow of its former self. And I say this, still recognising he is trying to do the right things ..but we have lost a big part of our “soul” and they are failing badly .

[matty_f]

After that list , Matty, which I agree with, there’s little left to celebrate…his actions, other than commercially, have almost all taken us backwards. The January window, was widely trumpeted as critically, after the summer debacle . It seems to have been used mainly for the future rather than for now . A bonkers decision, which has hurt us badly this season.

And what of the “Deloitte review” . Interesting that we have heard nothing from that . From rumours I hear Gordon was pushing for a no relegation proposal - a tearing up of the traditions of our game - and a move towards an American style franchise system top league ..no wonder they’ve been quiet on that ..

Our club is a shadow of its former self. And I say this, still recognising he is trying to do the right things ..but we have lost a big part of our “soul” and they are failing badly .

I don’t really agree with that, Clarke, Mitchell, Jasper and Henderson were signed for the team now. At the point they came in we were in a better position (or at least were expecting to be in a better position) injury wise. We needed a striker but still had a main number 9 available - Nisbet was fit and Doidge was available, that’s two senior strikers for a system that requires one.
Magennis was due back, and we had (IIRC) Hanlon, Porteous, McGregor at centre half with Rocky and Clarke adding to that, with McGinn recovering from injury.

If you are looking at our business from a squad point of view at the time we did it, we were looking ok. To then lose the players we did, including Clarke, puts a different perspective on that window, but that’s with hindsight.

I think we brought in three players who were designated “B team” players, Delfierre and Hauge, and the guy that was immediately loaned to Charleston - the others were/are first team players.

We are in a bad place at the moment, bottom six and on the back of two horrendous results against Hearts. The mood around the club support is awful - as bad as i can remember it in years, but I think we need to be careful about what we associate the cause and effect being.

The single biggest factor, imho, in a disastrous season has been injuries, which compounded the impact of a poor summer transfer window. Discipline has been a problem, so we’ve missed key players unnecessarily through periods of the season as well.

The groundwork to improve the future of the squad/club is necessary, and it’s right that we sign for the future, I disagree that this has been done at the expense of the first team, and I would stand by the point that without injuries the January window was much better than it looks in hindsight.

[bigwheel]

I don’t really agree with that, Clarke, Mitchell, Jasper and Henderson were signed for the team now. At the point they came in we were in a better position (or at least were expecting to be in a better position) injury wise. We needed a striker but still had a main number 9 available - Nisbet was fit and Doidge was available, that’s two senior strikers for a system that requires one.
Magennis was due back, and we had (IIRC) Hanlon, Porteous, McGregor at centre half with Rocky and Clarke adding to that, with McGinn recovering from injury.

If you are looking at our business from a squad point of view at the time we did it, we were looking ok. To then lose the players we did, including Clarke, puts a different perspective on that window, but that’s with hindsight.

I think we brought in three players who were designated “B team” players, Delfierre and Hauge, and the guy that was immediately loaned to Charleston - the others were/are first team players.

We are in a bad place at the moment, bottom six and on the back of two horrendous results against Hearts. The mood around the club support is awful - as bad as i can remember it in years, but I think we need to be careful about what we associate the cause and effect being.

The single biggest factor, imho, in a disastrous season has been injuries, which compounded the impact of a poor summer transfer window. Discipline has been a problem, so we’ve missed key players unnecessarily through periods of the season as well.

The groundwork to improve the future of the squad/club is necessary, and it’s right that we sign for the future, I disagree that this has been done at the expense of the first team, and I would stand by the point that without injuries the January window was much better than it looks in hindsight.

Some Fair points around window - but feel you are way overstating the outcome and your views need balanced by the facts that Jasper, Mitchell (even if he had been fit ) and Henderson have turned out to be squad additions for this season - when we needed guaranteed starters to improve the team …it was a poor window .

The major impact on the season was the managerial change decision . Regardless of injuries, it was such a seismic change that it completely derailed the season mid way through - has been a shocker of a decision.

[Hibs90]

I don't think he has any sinister intentions as such but I am still none the wiser as to why he bought Hibs or how he plans on taking the club to the next level as promised, if anything we are regressing, again, certainly on the park which is where it matters most.

[matty_f]

Some Fair points around window - but feel you are way overstating the outcome and your views need balanced by the facts that Jasper, Mitchell (even if he had been fit ) and Henderson have turned out to be squad additions for this season - when we needed guaranteed starters to improve the team …it was a poor window .

The major impact on the season was the managerial change decision . Regardless of injuries, it was such a seismic change that it completely derailed the season mid way through - has been a shocker of a decision.

Re the manager change, I was at the point that i felt it was necessary due to the huge split in the support Ross was causing. Without that, I’d probably have backed him to turn it around but he’d lost too much of the support and the club blinked.

In hindsight, I absolutely think it was the wrong decision but in a year’s time we can revisit it - Maloney might prove to be a huge success given time and then hindsight will give us a different view. It might reaffirm the view that it was a mistake, instead.

I think when you look at Jasper, Henderson and Mitchell you can’t ignore injuries, not just to them but others in the team that then necessitated a reshuffle in the line up. They’ve also come in to an underperforming team trying to do something new that the manager is implementing (or at least, trying to implement).

I do think it’s too easy to say they’re a failure without putting context into it. It is fair to say that none of them have been a huge success yet but there is significant mitigation for that, and again that’s down to circumstances that the club couldn’t reasonably foresee at the time we signed them.

[bigwheel]

Re the manager change, I was at the point that i felt it was necessary due to the huge split in the support Ross was causing. Without that, I’d probably have backed him to turn it around but he’d lost too much of the support and the club blinked.

In hindsight, I absolutely think it was the wrong decision but in a year’s time we can revisit it - Maloney might prove to be a huge success given time and then hindsight will give us a different view. It might reaffirm the view that it was a mistake, instead.

I think when you look at Jasper, Henderson and Mitchell you can’t ignore injuries, not just to them but others in the team that then necessitated a reshuffle in the line up. They’ve also come in to an underperforming team trying to do something new that the manager is implementing (or at least, trying to implement).

I do think it’s too easy to say they’re a failure without putting context into it. It is fair to say that none of them have been a huge success yet but there is significant mitigation for that, and again that’s down to circumstances that the club couldn’t reasonably foresee at the time we signed them.

It’s the nature of the change that they got wrong . I’m a huge Ross fan . And I suspect it will be years before we get someone with his win rate - but putting that aside , they chose a novice manager . And one who was steadfast in a very technical set of changes to how we play . Hearing the players talk about it - it has been a major change . Both the inexperience and the amount of change mid season , was always going to derail us - injuries or not . It’s a failure - both of those who made the change, n Maloney’s approach - changing too much , too soon .

Like you, I’m hoping we get the dividends from it - but that’s not the tone you hear around the club . The players like him - but the overall view is he is too nice ..it’s not a story of “wait until we are in full flow “. I’ve never heard that once .

Yes injuries have been a major drag - but I’d actually turn it on it’s head and say they have masked how impacting the change has been, and how much pain it has caused on the season.

[ScottB]

I don't think he has any sinister intentions as such but I am still none the wiser as to why he bought Hibs or how he plans on taking the club to the next level as promised, if anything we are regressing, again, certainly on the park which is where it matters most.

Agreed, I don’t think there’s anything ‘sinister’ at work, and there are much, much better ways of turning a few million into more millions than going near a football club.

He wouldn’t be the first successful business guy to rock up to a sport and think ‘I can shake this up, I’m a success’ and fall flat on his face, not that that is what I’m hoping for here, but it’s an issue with these very successful guys when they leave the field they did well in, there’s a, perhaps understandable, arrogance that they will bring that success with them into what is essentially an entirely different industry they don’t know anything about.

Not sure we’re in that bad a mess, his son aside, the other appointments all looked good on paper, a CEO with Premier League experience, an upcoming young coach with top level experience etc etc so it could be that we’ve just been unlucky so far, but the heart was in the right place. We’ll see in time I guess.

[Since452]

It’s the nature of the change that they got wrong . I’m a huge Ross fan . And I suspect it will be years before we get someone with his win rate - but putting that aside , they chose a novice manager . And one who was steadfast in a very technical set of changes to how we play . Hearing the players talk about it - it has been a major change . Both the inexperience and the amount of change mid season , was always going to derail us - injuries or not . It’s a failure - both of those who made the change, n Maloney’s approach - changing too much , too soon .

Like you, I’m hoping we get the dividends from it - but that’s not the tone you hear around the club . The players like him - but the overall view is he is too nice ..it’s not a story of “wait until we are in full flow “. I’ve never heard that once .

Yes injuries have been a major drag - but I’d actually turn it on it’s head and say they have masked how impacting the change has been, and how much pain it has caused on the season.

Ross split opinion so the agrument will never go away but i, like you was a big fan and i thought we were naive sacking him when we did. We were on a poor run mainly due to mitigating circumstances but we had a cup final and a transfer window coming up. Generally when fans start showing their anger towards the manager there's no way back and Ross was at that stage with a lot of fans. I think we are now in an even worse position. I've said it before but i wouldnt have had a problem sacking Ross if we'd brought someone better in. With his record that was always going to be very difficult. I think Maloney was a very, very poor and naive choice. That concerns me. I'm not even angry at Maloney i just think the guy is way out his depth. Aberdeen tried the same thing with Glass and it backfired. They've had the sense to change it. I hope we do.

[Greenworld]

Ross split opinion so the agrument will never go away but i, like you was a big fan and i thought we were naive sacking him when we did. We were on a poor run mainly due to mitigating circumstances but we had a cup final and a transfer window coming up. Generally when fans start showing their anger towards the manager there's no way back and Ross was at that stage with a lot of fans. I think we are now in an even worse position. I've said it before but i wouldnt have had a problem sacking Ross if we'd brought someone better in. With his record that was always going to be very difficult. I think Maloney was a very, very poor and naive choice. That concerns me. I'm not even angry at Maloney i just think the guy is way out his depth. Aberdeen tried the same thing with Glass and it backfired. They've had the sense to change it. I hope we do.They changed the manager with no visible bounce back from the team. Malloney took over a club with a injury list like I've never seen. He has no strikers available and virtually no goals from midfield.
We either give him the summer or fire him now .
So we fire him who comes in?


Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

[bigwheel]

They changed the manager with no visible bounce back from the team. Malloney took over a club with a injury list like I've never seen. He has no strikers available and virtually no goals from midfield.
We either give him the summer or fire him now .
So we fire him who comes in?


Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

Even though I’m far from convinced , as I’ve said in other threads , I’d keep him . We’ve done the damage of the change , we may as well go deep in this journey and try to get a return on it …

[chippy]

After that list , Matty, which I agree with, there’s little left to celebrate…his actions, other than commercially, have almost all taken us backwards. The January window, was widely trumpeted as critically, after the summer debacle . It seems to have been used mainly for the future rather than for now . A bonkers decision, which has hurt us badly this season.

And what of the “Deloitte review” . Interesting that we have heard nothing from that . From rumours I hear Gordon was pushing for a no relegation proposal - a tearing up of the traditions of our game - and a move towards an American style franchise system top league ..no wonder they’ve been quiet on that ..

Our club is a shadow of its former self. And I say this, still recognising he is trying to do the right things ..but we have lost a big part of our “soul” and they are failing badly .

Interesting re the Deloitte review rumours. Problematic if they’re going for a National League without relegation with 3 of the Deloitte backers in the bottom 6 and at some risk of relegation. I presume they’re including premier league expansion so perhaps they’ll amend it a bit, a top league of 16/18 is in effect a relegation free league for the biggest 5/6 clubs in the league. There’s no real need to scrap relegation from that size of league

[matty_f]

Interesting re the Deloitte review rumours. Problematic if they’re going for a National League without relegation with 3 of the Deloitte backers in the bottom 6 and at some risk of relegation. I presume they’re including premier league expansion so perhaps they’ll amend it a bit, a top league of 16/18 is in effect a relegation free league for the biggest 5/6 clubs in the league. There’s no real need to scrap relegation from that size of league

I think the Deloitte review story is miles off. As far as I’m aware, the report was commissioned to independently review the set up and make recommendations, rather than take an agenda driven approach.

[NAE NOOKIE]

I think the Deloitte review story is miles off. As far as I’m aware, the report was commissioned to independently review the set up and make recommendations, rather than take an agenda driven approach.

I presume Ron Gordon isn't an idiot, inexperienced in running a football club for sure, but not stupid. The suggestion being made that he is / was pushing for a no relegation franchise system for Scottish football has to be miles off the reality of what he want's ... you don't have to have been steeped in European football for decades to know such a suggestion would be a non starter here or anywhere else in Europe, a fact of which I'm sure he is well aware.

He may be pushing for a bigger league and a shake up in the number of clubs, but if that's the case he would be far from alone in that view. There's plenty of fans who support the idea of a bigger premiership, the main arguments centre around how that would work rather than the concept of doing it. Hearts of course brought the whole idea into disrepute with their ridiculous and selfish road to Damascus style conversion to the idea for one season to save their own skin. Unfortunately, certainly amongst the Hibs support as far as I could see, the effect of that was to turn many folk against the whole idea.

I'm willing to bet that with the prospect of European group stage football staring them in the face our manky neighbours are now very much against the idea :greengrin

[bigwheel]

I presume Ron Gordon isn't an idiot, inexperienced in running a football club for sure, but not stupid. The suggestion being made that he is / was pushing for a no relegation franchise system for Scottish football has to be miles off the reality of what he want's ... you don't have to have been steeped in European football for decades to know such a suggestion would be a non starter here or anywhere else in Europe, a fact of which I'm sure he is well aware.

He may be pushing for a bigger league and a shake up in the number of clubs, but if that's the case he would be far from alone in that view. There's plenty of fans who support the idea of a bigger premiership, the main arguments centre around how that would work rather than the concept of doing it. Hearts of course brought the whole idea into disrepute with their ridiculous and selfish road to Damascus style conversion to the idea for one season to save their own skin. Unfortunately, certainly amongst the Hibs support as far as I could see, the effect of that was to turn many folk against the whole idea.

I'm willing to bet that with the prospect of European group stage football staring them in the face our manky neighbours are now very much against the idea :greengrin

Whether there was any focus of it in the Deloitte review is indeed just speculation (from me) ..but it was his idea and preference - he’s mentioned it before in the early days of his reign and others have heard him talk about it at discussions since then. Gordon looks at Hibs as a business investment . He wants to de-risk his investment anyway he can . This would be one way. To be balanced, I’m not sure how deep he cares about this idea - or how major it is for him - but it has been on his mind and openly discussed .

The report was produced three months ago, none of its findings have been made public yet.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Whether there was any focus of it in the Deloitte review is indeed just speculation (from me) ..but it was his idea and preference - he’s mentioned it before in the early days of his reign and others have heard him talk about it at discussions since then. Gordon looks at Hibs as a business investment . He wants to de-risk his investment anyway he can . This would be one way. To be balanced, I’m not sure how deep he cares about this idea - or how major it is for him - but it has been on his mind and openly discussed .

The report was produced three months ago, none of its findings have been made public yet.

If that is the case he is making decisions based on comparing apples with oranges. The US sports culture he will know about may not have any concept of promotion and relegation, but it also applies checks and balances to ensure that no club ( franchise ) can dominate it's league, the NFL being a prime example, but not far behind being MLS which operates a salary cap.

If you follow the NFL or MLS your club might be in the wilderness for a few years, but there is always hope that within a few seasons it will be right up there. Without that you could end up with clubs who languish at or near the bottom of the league for decades without even the nail biting excitement of a last day relegation dogfight or a playoff to look forward to .... who the hell would pay to watch that every season apart from the most avid of die hards.

If Ron Gordon seriously does think that would be a goer then perhaps he shouldn't be anywhere near a Scottish football club.

[chippy]

Whether there was any focus of it in the Deloitte review is indeed just speculation (from me) ..but it was his idea and preference - he’s mentioned it before in the early days of his reign and others have heard him talk about it at discussions since then. Gordon looks at Hibs as a business investment . He wants to de-risk his investment anyway he can . This would be one way. To be balanced, I’m not sure how deep he cares about this idea - or how major it is for him - but it has been on his mind and openly discussed .

The report was produced three months ago, none of its findings have been made public yet.

Agree mainly with NN above. Can’t imagine the Deloitte report being agenda free. If it was simply about finance and tv deals I’d think it would be out in the open now. I can’t see how you can avoid league expansion if you want a better product and protect the Americans investments in Scotland

[James Stephen]

I think the Deloitte review story is miles off. As far as I’m aware, the report was commissioned to independently review the set up and make recommendations, rather than take an agenda driven approach.

Very few people commission a report, however 'independent', without having a good idea of what it will say, and a big say in what they look at and recommend.

[ancient hibee]

Agree mainly with NN above. Can’t imagine the Deloitte report being agenda free. If it was simply about finance and tv deals I’d think it would be out in the open now. I can’t see how you can avoid league expansion if you want a better product and protect the Americans investments in Scotland

If you think that the report will come out for expansion so that the money is shared with even more clubs I guess that you are well wide of the mark.

[chippy]

If you think that the report will come out for expansion so that the money is shared with even more clubs I guess that you are well wide of the mark.

Currently it’s shared by 42 clubs. I doubt they’re increasing that or if they do it will be with B teams who won’t get a share.

[Hibernia&Alba]

Will no doubt get called a sycophant or whatever for this, but **** it, it's what I think so here goes:

I don't think Ron Gordon's answer to the question "why Hibs?" is that far from the truth - I think he played on the Scottish connections a bit more than he needed to but ultimately I think he wanted into football, sees an opportunity to make some money, and Hibs were the right club at the right time for him and us.

He can only make money if we are successful. Full stop. Anything other than success on the pitch costs him money and is a loss making venture for him. At best, he'll be able to recoup what he's spent if and when he sells, if we're not successful, if he successfully and adequately upgrades the stadium and training centre so that the fixed assets give him more value than he bought it for.

Spending the Boyle money - Boyle left almost at the end of the window, we were never going to be able to get a like for like replacement in for him. In fact, when we signed Boyle he was miles off the player that would leave. The young laddie that we brought in on loan also was brought in with an option to buy if we want him (as was the other young laddie Rocky, and Henderson who is definitely staying). The money hasn't been spent, the manager has already spoken about meeting targets for next season, presumably they will cost money to recruit whether that's in transfer fees or wages.

We've used the partnership with Charleston Battery to send a signing on loan to develop (and presumably get the necessary games for a work permit in the UK?). Easily forgotten though, if you wanted to.

The wage bill has increased, that's despite the impact of covid on the club - it's in the accounts for anyone that wants to look.

This notion that we're being tight or thrifty on the playing squad doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Melkersen, Nisbet, Hauge, Tait, Mackay off the top of my head all commanded six figure transfer or development fees.

Has it all been an immediate success - absolutely not, but that doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile long term strategy. Remember that we also went into the close of the transfer window with Nisbet, Doidge and Scott as options up front, it was presumably not the intention to have them get injured and rely on Melkersen so soon. We also had Magennis getting back to fitness before his new injury just as he was due to return, and we probably didn't expect to lose Porteous for 4 games to compound matters.

This has been a horrible season, with some serious mitigation behind it, and while I think it is healthy to be critical and have some healthy cynicism of the board and owner, equally you can't ignore facts because they don't suit the argument.

Good post. The thing is it's very difficult to make money from owning a football club. I remember Alan Sugar saying that his buying of Spurs was tremendous as a supporter but was a disastrous business decision. If an already wealthy person wants to make money, there are much easier ways than buying a football club. I don't know why an American would want to buy a Scottish football club, as there is no money in our game. Hopefully, he knows what he's doing and takes the club forward, but only time will tell.

[Jones28]

Aye, because that’s the real key part of my post right enough…. Shakes head *


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The point of your post is that he’s stamping his personality on the club.

It was literally the point you were trying to make 😂

[bigwheel]

The point of your post is that he’s stamping his personality on the club.

It was literally the point you were trying to make [emoji23]

My post was about his decisions , strategy , his choices - it is about his character, but only the decisions he has makes…that’s all I care about . He has certainly made his choices clear on our club

[Jones28]

The post was about his decisions , strategy , his choices - it is about his character, but much more the impact of the decisions he has made …

Aye ok, despite the second line of the post saying he is is stamping his personality on the club.

[bigwheel]

Aye ok, despite the second line of the post saying he is is stamping his personality on the club.

Well he will be - by default of his beliefs and decisions ..he is (for example ) business driven much more than community driven for example …shown by his priorities and choices . I’m not suggesting he has a bad set of values or ambitions for the club …but he has been ruthless at driving out what has gone before ..that’s driven by him as an individual …but I’m only interested on how he impacts our club , not a psychological analysis of him as a man …

[Hibernia&Alba]

Well he will be - by default of his beliefs and decisions ..he is (for example ) business driven much more than community driven for example …shown by his priorities and choices . I’m not suggesting he has a bad set of values or ambitions for the club …but he has been ruthless at driving out what has gone before ..that’s driven by him as an individual …but I’m only interested on how he impacts our club , not a psychological analysis of him as a man …

And that remains to be seen. Some of his decisions thus far have been worrying. We will need to see how this pans out.

[bigwheel]

And that remains to be seen. Some of his decisions thus far have been worrying. We will need to see how this pans out.

I’m assuming thats where we all are …jury out ..significantly failing report card so far , I’d say …

[madhatter]

I think one of his biggest reasons is legacy building. If it was merely a build and flip I don't think he'd involve his son in player recruitment.

Get the feeling he wants to build Hibs into something special and potentially leave it for his family or sell, not only for a profit, but also to leave a Gordon family stamp on it. Not unlike Farmer in a way. Hibs fans will talk about Farmer for hundreds of years.

[A Hi-Bee]

Good post. The thing is it's very difficult to make money from owning a football club. I remember Alan Sugar saying that his buying of Spurs was tremendous as a supporter but was a disastrous business decision. If an already wealthy person wants to make money, there are much easier ways than buying a football club. I don't know why an American would want to buy a Scottish football club, as there is no money in our game. Hopefully, he knows what he's doing and takes the club forward, but only time will tell.

I remember Pat Nevin saying perhaps 10 years ago now, that he could not understand why someone did not buy into a Scottish club as at the time he estimated for a 50million investment they would be guaranteed European Champions League Football. They could make plenty from it, but all the cash was going into the English game. much more than 50mill with even less return for most of them.
I guess the numbers would be a bit higher but the principle stays the same, if you want to make money from Scottish football you have to do the same as Neil McCann did with the lesser greens, or invest the required amounts, otherwise it all just stays the same, never mind the deliberate sectarianism and bias in the game.
GGTTH

[cabbageandribs1875]

disappointing we've not announced any new partnerships for a few weeks now :greengrin

[Coco Bryce]

More importantly. When we getting the ticker tape advertising fitted?

[Alfred E Newman]

More importantly. When we getting the ticker tape advertising fitted?

After the disco lights.

[smack]

I remember Pat Nevin saying perhaps 10 years ago now, that he could not understand why someone did not buy into a Scottish club as at the time he estimated for a 50million investment they would be guaranteed European Champions League Football. They could make plenty from it, but all the cash was going into the English game. much more than 50mill with even less return for most of them.
I guess the numbers would be a bit higher but the principle stays the same, if you want to make money from Scottish football you have to do the same as Neil McCann did with the lesser greens, or invest the required amounts, otherwise it all just stays the same, never mind the deliberate sectarianism and bias in the game.
GGTTH

I think you mean Fergus McCann [emoji1787]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hibiza]

For a hobby , a fleeting family based interest. If had further aspirations would have put some hard cash down to sign proven quality players, not journeymen that have been passed about more times than a " razz mag " .