Potential takeover/new investor?

[CropleyWasGod]

And that, in itself, is surely hugely concerning for us as fans of Hibs.

I think we need to know everyone's end-game and exit route. eg what happens if, say, after a few years it is decided that "it" (whatever "it" is) isn't working. How is it to be unravelled? Who has to pay, or repay, what? What state would the club be left in?

[Daniel 1875]

Only a concern if it’s true.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Of course - but it’s worth considering.

[Hibbyradge]

They were top of the league last season with about 10 minutes to go as well.

I'm sure I heard a story about another team doing something similar with only 7 minutes to go?

Nah, that can't be true.

[Alex Trager]

I think we need to know everyone's end-game and exit route. eg what happens if, say, after a few years it is decided that "it" (whatever "it" is) isn't working. How is it to be unravelled? Who has to pay, or repay, what? What state would the club be left in?

I think these questions are very valid ones, and ones that concern me and my friends.

I believe the future is to be with Foley in full control, which again, is a concern re the above.

[Hibbyradge]

This is where I think folk need to temper their expectations a bit.

It's highly unlikely we'll be getting the kind of cash we would need to get any players that are 2-3 years from joining an EPL team. I mean, how many players from the OF move directly to the EPL? A handful over the years. We would need tens of millions injected year on year to achieve that imo. And I see no indication this guy has any intention of that.

My concern with all this is our place in the pyramid. My understanding is Foley has Bournemouth, Lorient, Auckland and the plan is to acquire Hibs and a club in Holland.

If that happens it's much more likely imo we'll be getting more players from the A League, and if selling they'll be going to Holland or France.

Now, that is still likely to see us with an increased budget and attracting better players, but I just don't see any evidence we are going to get vast sums of money coming in to truly revolutionise the markets we'll be operating in.

There's no evidence of anything yet, just Foley's stated ambition to have us regularly finishing 3rd.

[jeffers]

I think these questions are very valid ones, and ones that concern me and my friends.

I believe the future is to be with Foley in full control, which again, is a concern re the above.

That’s the bit I’m hoping isn’t the case. Everything I’ve heard is that the Gordon family are committed to us and while I clearly don’t know any of the details if they did want out why not just sell up to one of the other two parties who were interested.

Like you him having full control concerns me.

[Gordy M]

That’s the bit I’m hoping isn’t the case. Everything I’ve heard is that the Gordon family are committed to us and while I clearly don’t know any of the details if they did want out why not just sell up to one of the other two parties who were interested.

Like you him having full control concerns me.

Yeh be interesting to see what the statement is when this is finalised. Folk seem to think that he is buying the club.....he isnt, well not at the moment. He is buying part of the club and investing money. Hopefully they will clarify the way ahead in the future.

[Jones28]

Hearts fans on JKB seemingly struggling to grasp the idea of a pyramid, obviously unaware that there is a team at the top and there are layers rather than individual clubs underneath. One reference to Hibs being third choice but dropping to fourth when Foley buys a Dutch club?

Lots of them jumping on quotes from the FC Lorient forum, conveniently glossing over the fact they are in the relegation zone and are (rightly or wrongly) wondering whether it's working for them.

Some of them also referencing Charlton being unhappy with being part of a similar set up, again overlooking their position within English football and seeing no progress, forgetting the fact that they've been a Championship/League 1 yo-yo club for a decade, having bounced out of the premier league and down to league 1 in 2013.

Hibs are the only club within the group with a realistic chance of European football this season, and even going in to next season. In fact this season, with a bit of a cash injection, we are very real favourites for European Group Stage football. Bournemouth are a very long shot, Lorient; no danger even though they're in the top flight. Do they really think Foley etc are not going to realise that Hibs are their only avenue in to European football in the short to medium term?

Others are questioning his motives, to which I would say why would he buy a minority share in Hibs for anything other than Footballing reasons?

[WhileTheChief..]

If you're happy with the Gordon's owning us, and trust them to do the right thing, you should be relaxed about this deal I'd have thought.

Any new money coming into the club is hugely welcome by me.

All the chat about pyramids and where players will come from etc doesn't interest me at all. I think we'll see better quality players at ER which is the bottom line.

Who or when we sell them doesn't bother me either. We've always sold our best players, it hopefully just means our best players in future are better than our best players of the past!!!

I don't see any negatives at all.

[blackpoolhibs]

I'm excited about this, for it to work the takeover needs to be a success for every club in it, and that will be their goal.

Who's been excited about Hibs recently?

Football in the main in Scotland is dull, bar our cup win and the odd decent league campaign, Hibs have been dull and excitement virtually non existant.

This could all go tits up, but it's never going to be about them trying to kill our club off or steal from charities, it's all about making every bit of the cog as succesfull as they can.

These people are billionaires, they have made all the money they ever need. It's about success for these people, winning, and if we can help them along in this goal, then count me in as for it.

[Jones28]

If you're happy with the Gordon's owning us, and trust them to do the right thing, you should be relaxed about this deal I'd have thought.

Any new money coming into the club is hugely welcome by me.

All the chat about pyramids and where players will come from etc doesn't interest me at all. I think we'll see better quality players at ER which is the bottom line.

Who or when we sell them doesn't bother me either. We've always sold our best players, it hopefully just means our best players in future are better than our best players of the past!!!

I don't see any negatives at all.

:agree:

[mcohibs]

Clarity needed of course on the details of the investment if it goes ahead and what this means for the short term future, long term ambitions of the club, but by all accounts this seems to be an exciting prospect.

I think there’s a very obtainable opportunity for a club in Scotland to pull away as a ‘third force’, and with the infrastructure already in place at Hibs I see no reason why that couldn’t be us, with the right backing.

[matty_f]

I'm excited about this, for it to work the takeover needs to be a success for every club in it, and that will be their goal.

Who's been excited about Hibs recently?

Football in the main in Scotland is dull, bar our cup win and the odd decent league campaign, Hibs have been dull and excitement virtually non existant.

This could all go tits up, but it's never going to be about them trying to kill our club off or steal from charities, it's all about making every bit of the cog as succesfull as they can.

These people are billionaires, they have made all the money they ever need. It's about success for these people, winning, and if we can help them along in this goal, then count me in as for it.

This is where I am with it, I don't really see the downside to it.

At worst, we're what? A feeder team for an EPL side? I can live with that, at the moment we're a feeder team for, at best, Championship sides (with the exception of Doig who went to Italy).

Our best talent in a generation went to the Championship. If we're going to have players passing through on their way to the EPL, I'll take that all day long.

At best, these guys are genuinely serious about making Hibs successful and they'll use their means to do it, that's going to be a fun ride for us.

I just want to see a good Hibs side, if this is the way we achieve that then I'm right behind it.

[bingo70]

I'm excited about this, for it to work the takeover needs to be a success for every club in it, and that will be their goal.

Who's been excited about Hibs recently?

Football in the main in Scotland is dull, bar our cup win and the odd decent league campaign, Hibs have been dull and excitement virtually non existant.

This could all go tits up, but it's never going to be about them trying to kill our club off or steal from charities, it's all about making every bit of the cog as succesfull as they can.

These people are billionaires, they have made all the money they ever need. It's about success for these people, winning, and if we can help them along in this goal, then count me in as for it.

Spot on.

The only thing I’d add is that I couldn’t care what Hearts fans are saying on JKB, of course they’ll be looking for a negative angle to it, why wouldn’t they?!

I’m really excited about what’s ahead.

[Hibbyradge]

Haha hearts fans really are worried about this lol, nobody really knows how much investment there will be other than the investors and hibs.

Sooks meanwhile is scowering the internets fans forum pages to find clues... then reporting back 'dont panic,dont panic!'

Didn't they forecast doom and gloom when Ron Gordon came in too?

They're just saying what they'd want to happen.

WishfulThinking.com

[WhileTheChief..]

This is where I think folk need to temper their expectations a bit.

It's highly unlikely we'll be getting the kind of cash we would need to get any players that are 2-3 years from joining an EPL team. I mean, how many players from the OF move directly to the EPL? A handful over the years. We would need tens of millions injected year on year to achieve that imo. And I see no indication this guy has any intention of that.

My concern with all this is our place in the pyramid. My understanding is Foley has Bournemouth, Lorient, Auckland and the plan is to acquire Hibs and a club in Holland.

If that happens it's much more likely imo we'll be getting more players from the A League, and if selling they'll be going to Holland or France.

Now, that is still likely to see us with an increased budget and attracting better players, but I just don't see any evidence we are going to get vast sums of money coming in to truly revolutionise the markets we'll be operating in.

Nah, your post is just giving a negative slant to things! The points you mention are no more likely to happen than the stuff we're getting excited about.

Foley's aim is to have us finishing 3rd. That's one of the only things we know for sure about his potential involvement with Hibs.

He's never mentioned that we have to achieve that within a certain budget. He's maybe just as likely to mean he wants to achieve that 'whatever the cost' and would be more than happy to spend £20m a season to achieve it!

There is nothing to suggest we will get more players form the A league than anywhere else. Besides, going by posts on here we're after 3 players from Oz anyways based on NMs recommendations, so all is good if that did transpire!

There won't ever be evidence to show you we will get vast sions of money, how could you expect there to be?

What we will see, is a better standard of player at ER. Otherwise, what's the point?

[Hibbyradge]

I think that’s crystal clear. It’s why I’m less comfortable with the idea of him having a majority stake in us. My hope is this isn’t a precursor to him gaining full control and the Gordon family still have the intention of remaining majority shareholders and the tie in being what’s best for Hibs, not what’s best for Bournemouth.

I think it's a certainty that when the rules permit it, Foley will buy the club outright.

[SickBoy32]

Hearts fans on JKB seemingly struggling to grasp the idea of a pyramid, obviously unaware that there is a team at the top and there are layers rather than individual clubs underneath. One reference to Hibs being third choice but dropping to fourth when Foley buys a Dutch club?

Lots of them jumping on quotes from the FC Lorient forum, conveniently glossing over the fact they are in the relegation zone and are (rightly or wrongly) wondering whether it's working for them.

Some of them also referencing Charlton being unhappy with being part of a similar set up, again overlooking their position within English football and seeing no progress, forgetting the fact that they've been a Championship/League 1 yo-yo club for a decade, having bounced out of the premier league and down to league 1 in 2013.

Hibs are the only club within the group with a realistic chance of European football this season, and even going in to next season. In fact this season, with a bit of a cash injection, we are very real favourites for European Group Stage football. Bournemouth are a very long shot, Lorient; no danger even though they're in the top flight. Do they really think Foley etc are not going to realise that Hibs are their only avenue in to European football in the short to medium term?

Others are questioning his motives, to which I would say why would he buy a minority share in Hibs for anything other than Footballing reasons?

I don’t read JKB but I would say they’re likely not too far away from reality, when suggesting that we’ll be 3rd / 4th in this pyramid. AZ play in a better league, as do Lorient (for the time being anyway!).

I see ourselves as being above this new club in NZ, likely taking their better players (similar to now really, when we can take the better players from all teams in the A league) and feeding players to Holland / France, not the EPL. Is this strategy really going to lead to a markedly higher quality of player at ER? I am very doubtful on this. It does not appear that the quality of Lorient player has increased, possibly decreased since the investment.

I also do not think that the gripes of Lorient fans with regards to the group, should be glossed over. That could be us in the not too distant future after all. Foley has went in there and they look to be on their way to Ligue 2, not exactly a great endorsement for this pyramid IMO.

I’d agree we’re the primary candidates for European football next season, but is the Conference League really that much of an attraction? It is to us as fans of course, but I’m not sure the financial rewards are big enough to make these billionaires sit up and take notice.

[Ozyhibby]

I think these questions are very valid ones, and ones that concern me and my friends.

I believe the future is to be with Foley in full control, which again, is a concern re the above.

Is Foley more of a concern than Ron Gordon was?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hibbyradge]

I don’t read JKB but I would say they’re likely not too far away from reality, when suggesting that we’ll be 3rd / 4th in this pyramid. AZ play in a better league, as do Lorient (for the time being anyway!).

I see ourselves as being above this new club in NZ, likely taking their better players (similar to now really, when we can take the better players from all teams in the A league) and feeding players to Holland / France, not the EPL. Is this strategy really going to lead to a markedly higher quality of player at ER? I am very doubtful on this. It does not appear that the quality of Lorient player has increased, possibly decreased since the investment.

I also do not think that the gripes of Lorient fans with regards to the group, should be glossed over. That could be us in the not too distant future after all. Foley has went in there and they look to be on their way to Ligue 2, not exactly a great endorsement for this pyramid IMO.

I’d agree we’re the primary candidates for European football next season, but is the Conference League really that much of an attraction? It is to us as fans of course, but I’m not sure the financial rewards are big enough to make these billionaires sit up and take notice.

Would third not get Europa League football?

[neil7908]

Nah, your post is just giving a negative slant to things! The points you mention are no more likely to happen than the stuff we're getting excited about.

Foley's aim is to have us finishing 3rd. That's one of the only things we know for sure about his potential involvement with Hibs.

He's never mentioned that we have to achieve that within a certain budget. He's maybe just as likely to mean he wants to achieve that 'whatever the cost' and would be more than happy to spend £20m a season to achieve it!

There is nothing to suggest we will get more players form the A league than anywhere else. Besides, going by posts on here we're after 3 players from Oz anyways based on NMs recommendations, so all is good if that did transpire!

There won't ever be evidence to show you we will get vast sions of money, how could you expect there to be?

What we will see, is a better standard of player at ER. Otherwise, what's the point?

My post was in response to a bunch of people talking about us becoming a club selling loads of players to Bournemouth, and if that's the worst case then no worries as it would show success.

I'm just adding caution here. Plenty of others are saying fantasy stuff about us becoming 3rd force etc, with zero evidence to back that up. Not sure why you aren't commenting on their posts?

Of course this could go anyway, and if you are excited then crack on. But in terms of 'evidence' we have the two teams he currently owns. Bournemouth are doing well after a bad start and changing manager, Lorient seem to be struggling with fans unhappy (based on comments here at least).

This guy doesn't appear to be an Abramovich type, who will just throw cash around left right and centre.

And speaking about 'evidence', what do you have to back up your final statement? This is the kind of stuff I'm talking about that is way OTT. Plenty of rich guys have bought into football and been a disaster. How are Chelsea doing right now with their American billionaire?

[jeffers]

I think it's a certainty that when the rules permit it, Foley will buy the club outright.

None of us know that and if the Gordon family have the alm of selling us there were other interested parties. I guess we’ll just need wait and see.

[J-C]

Has anyone ever suggested this will be a pyramid system, or is it just clubs being owned by the same business group.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Would third not get Europa League football?

Technically it’s the cup winner that will get that. Third will get it if the cup winner has finished 1st or 2nd.

You’d then be guaranteed Conference League football but you’d get a straight shootout at Europa League in the form of a playoff game.

I wonder how much a Europa League group stage campaign could net the club? Is the suggestion not that the Conference League groups has been worth £5m - £6m to Hearts and Aberdeen? If so then a Europa League group campaign could prove to be absolutely huge.

[Paulie Walnuts]

My post was in response to a bunch of people talking about us becoming a club selling loads of players to Bournemouth, and if that's the worst case then no worries as it would show success.

I'm just adding caution here. Plenty of others are saying fantasy stuff about us becoming 3rd force etc, with zero evidence to back that up. Not sure why you aren't commenting on their posts?

Of course this could go anyway, and if you are excited then crack on. But in terms of 'evidence' we have the two teams he currently owns. Bournemouth are doing well after a bad start and changing manager, Lorient seem to be struggling with fans unhappy (based on comments here at least).

This guy doesn't appear to be an Abramovich type, who will just throw cash around left right and centre.

And speaking about 'evidence', what do you have to back up your final statement? This is the kind of stuff I'm talking about that is way OTT. Plenty of rich guys have bought into football and been a disaster. How are Chelsea doing right now with their American billionaire?

Agree. I’m optimistic about this, but your concerns are very, very valid. The proof will be in the pudding.

[Alex Trager]

That’s the bit I’m hoping isn’t the case. Everything I’ve heard is that the Gordon family are committed to us and while I clearly don’t know any of the details if they did want out why not just sell up to one of the other two parties who were interested.

Like you him having full control concerns me.

Well this is the bit that confuses me.

If they are committed then, as far as I can tell, it makes no sense for Foley to come in, add masses of value to the club (for a minority shareholder) without the Gordon’s matching the investment, respective of their shareholding.

Why would Foley add value to their shareholding for nothing?

That doesn’t make sense.

So, they must have agreed to sell their shareholding to him at some point.

Which makes me wonder why Bloom wasn’t entertained, he seems like the better option as far as I can tell.

[04Sauzee]

Well this is the bit that confuses me.

If they are committed then, as far as I can tell, it makes no sense for Foley to come in, add masses of value to the club (for a minority shareholder) without the Gordon’s matching the investment, respective of their shareholding.

Why would Foley add value to their shareholding for nothing?

That doesn’t make sense.

So, they must have agreed to sell their shareholding to him at some point.

Which makes me wonder why Bloom wasn’t entertained, he seems like the better option as far as I can tell.
Sorry for my ignorance but who is Bloom?

[Hibbyradge]

None of us know that and if the Gordon family have the alm of selling us there were other interested parties. I guess we’ll just need wait and see.

Yeah, of course, I'm just speculating, but I'm sure I read a comment from him a while ago, saying he didn't like being a minority partner or something along those lines.

[WhileTheChief..]

My post was in response to a bunch of people talking about us becoming a club selling loads of players to Bournemouth, and if that's the worst case then no worries as it would show success.

I'm just adding caution here. Plenty of others are saying fantasy stuff about us becoming 3rd force etc, with zero evidence to back that up. Not sure why you aren't commenting on their posts?

Of course this could go anyway, and if you are excited then crack on. But in terms of 'evidence' we have the two teams he currently owns. Bournemouth are doing well after a bad start and changing manager, Lorient seem to be struggling with fans unhappy (based on comments here at least).

This guy doesn't appear to be an Abramovich type, who will just throw cash around left right and centre.

And speaking about 'evidence', what do you have to back up your final statement? This is the kind of stuff I'm talking about that is way OTT. Plenty of rich guys have bought into football and been a disaster. How are Chelsea doing right now with their American billionaire?

We've heard very little from Foley's camp other than his stated aim is for Hibs to finish 3rd regularly. How is it fantasy stuff for some of us to buy into that? It's what we've all been aiming for, for the last 30+ years!!

There's been nothing to suggest we'll be anyone's feeder club other than from fans on forums. See Kickback fro examples!

I've no idea what Foley is like, maybe he is one for throwing cash around?? Just as likely as saying he's not like Abramovich!

My final statement about having a better standard of player at ER??

I think that's obvious and doesn't need explaining, but for us to regularly finish 3rd, we need better players. As finishing 3rd is Foley's stated aim, I don't think it's a stretch to suggest we will get players to try and make it happen.

There are probably dozens of clubs around Europe with billionaire owners not doing too well. I don't think anyone would argue that having billions gives you more a chance of success though.

I'm happy that our Board have actively been looking for investment and or on the verge of securing it.

If you're comfortable with the Gordon's, why not just trust their judgement and look forward to it with excitement instead of looking for the worst? Besides, the worst might happen so might as well get some enjoyment along the way :wink:

[Alex Trager]

Sorry for my ignorance but who is Bloom?

Bloom is the owner of Brighton. I am led to believe he had a very real interest in taking an initial minority stake in Hibs leading to a full Gordon buyout in a few years time.

Whether any of that is true or not, I do not know. It was on the PM board as well.

[Aldo]

Didn't they forecast doom and gloom when Ron Gordon came in too?

They're just saying what they'd want to happen.

WishfulThinking.com

Ron the Con and they all thought he’d assets strip and we’d be flats.

The reality is they all know what’s about to happen so of course they will be looking at every single negative spin. Again we are I. The heads and they are all obsessing with us.

[Bridge hibs]

Sorry for my ignorance but who is Bloom?

Owns Brighton

[Chorley Hibee]

Technically it’s the cup winner that will get that. Third will get it if the cup winner has finished 1st or 2nd.

You’d then be guaranteed Conference League football but you’d get a straight shootout at Europa League in the form of a playoff game.

I wonder how much a Europa League group stage campaign could net the club? Is the suggestion not that the Conference League groups has been worth £5m - £6m to Hearts and Aberdeen? If so then a Europa League group campaign could prove to be absolutely huge.

Knowing our luck, we'll finish third this season whilst Hearts or Aberdeen will win the cup.

[Bridge hibs]

Ron the Con and they all thought he’d assets strip and we’d be flats.

The reality is they all know what’s about to happen so of course they will be looking at every single negative spin. Again we are I. The heads and they are all obsessing with us.Also to add to that, Ron Gordon had offers to sell hibs but he refused as wanted to be here long term

[Aldo]

Also to add to that, Ron Gordon had offers to sell hibs but he refused as wanted to be here long term

Forgot about that.

[CapitalGreen]

Bloom is the owner of Brighton. I am led to believe he had a very real interest in taking an initial minority stake in Hibs leading to a full Gordon buyout in a few years time.

Whether any of that is true or not, I do not know. It was on the PM board as well.

You’ve embellished what was on the PM board.

[Aldo]

We've heard very little from Foley's camp other than his stated aim is for Hibs to finish 3rd regularly. How is it fantasy stuff for some of us to buy into that? It's what we've all been aiming for, for the last 30+ years!!

There's been nothing to suggest we'll be anyone's feeder club other than from fans on forums. See Kickback fro examples!

I've no idea what Foley is like, maybe he is one for throwing cash around?? Just as likely as saying he's not like Abramovich!

My final statement about having a better standard of player at ER??

I think that's obvious and doesn't need explaining, but for us to regularly finish 3rd, we need better players. As finishing 3rd is Foley's stated aim, I don't think it's a stretch to suggest we will get players to try and make it happen.

There are probably dozens of clubs around Europe with billionaire owners not doing too well. I don't think anyone would argue that having billions gives you more a chance of success though.

I'm happy that our Board have actively been looking for investment and or on the verge of securing it.

If you're comfortable with the Gordon's, why not just trust their judgement and look forward to it with excitement instead of looking for the worst? Besides, the worst might happen so might as well get some enjoyment along the way :wink:

Spot on for me WTC.

The thought of a better quality of player and a team consistently doing well does excite me.

It’s also understandable that our rival fans are looking at every single negative they can find because there is a chance of a significant investment in us. This pish about us all [emoji90] ourselves and feeder club stuff is brilliant. It shows they are still obsessed.


Let’s get tomorrow out the way and we can then see what they have planned to take us to the next level in all respects.

For those looking in - dry your eyes and enjoy your hotel

[Hibee Daft]

I'm pretyy optimistic about this. Like any other investor he will want what he has invested in to go up in price.

With not too much effort hibs could definitely do this by regularly coming 3rd, european football and a general increase in fan attendance and stature due to better footballing performances... there is a massive hibs fan base that would come out the woodwork if hibs kicked on and fulfilled its potential

[Smartie]

If you're happy with the Gordon's owning us, and trust them to do the right thing, you should be relaxed about this deal I'd have thought.

Any new money coming into the club is hugely welcome by me.

All the chat about pyramids and where players will come from etc doesn't interest me at all. I think we'll see better quality players at ER which is the bottom line.

Who or when we sell them doesn't bother me either. We've always sold our best players, it hopefully just means our best players in future are better than our best players of the past!!!

I don't see any negatives at all.

I think this is why I'm apprehensive - I'm a bit lukewarm about the Gordon era. Credit is most certainly due for aspects of what have gone on whilst they've owned us but mistakes have been made along the way too. They didn't take over with us in a bad position exactly and in the football sense we've failed to really make any progress so far despite spending a bit more money than before.

So as far as I'm concerned the jury's out on them so far whilst also allowing for stuff like getting us through covid, Ron's death etc.

I have no problem with folk dreaming btw. Whilst the phrase "it's the hope that kills you" holds some water, there's nothing quite like the anticipation of a new season, the start of a new cup competition or the start of any sort of new era where there is reason for optimism that this time it might be different.

[jeffers]

Yeah, of course, I'm just speculating, but I'm sure I read a comment from him a while ago, saying he didn't like being a minority partner or something along those lines.

Yeah I read similar. Maybe I’m being incredibly naive but I’m hoping he sees benefit in having a stake in us for, what will be it him, a smal outlay.

I can only reiterate if the Gordon family wanted to sell up Foley wasn’t the only interested party.

A further consideration is the SFA will struggle to justify blocking Foley getting involved given situation with Desmond and Shamrock but there is no guarantee they would OK someone having a controlling interest in a Scottish club it they already have one with other clubs.

[matty_f]

I think this is why I'm apprehensive - I'm a bit lukewarm about the Gordon era. Credit is most certainly due for aspects of what have gone on whilst they've owned us but mistakes have been made along the way too. They didn't take over with us in a bad position exactly and in the football sense, we've failed to really make any progress so far despite spending a bit more money than before.

So as far as I'm concerned the jury's out on them so far whilst also allowing for stuff like getting us through covid, Ron's death etc.

I have no problem with folk dreaming btw. Whilst the phrase "it's the hope that kills you" holds some water, there's nothing quite like the anticipation of a new season, the start of a new cup competition or the start of any sort of new era where there is reason for optimism that this time it might be different.

I think in terms of progressing on the football front, it’s been unfortunate for us and the Gordons that their investment coincided with COVID hitting and then Aberdeen and Hearts ramping up their spending.

That’s not to say there haven’t been mistakes, but those factors definitely lessened the impact of the investment that’s been made. It should also be remembered that the Gordons were never playing the short game, they put money into things that would realise more money over time, and that money was to fuel the performance on the pitch.

I think this investment accelerates those plans drastically.

[Pagan Hibernia]

I think this is why I'm apprehensive - I'm a bit lukewarm about the Gordon era. Credit is most certainly due for aspects of what have gone on whilst they've owned us but mistakes have been made along the way too. They didn't take over with us in a bad position exactly and in the football sense, we've failed to really make any progress so far despite spending a bit more money than before.

So as far as I'm concerned the jury's out on them so far whilst also allowing for stuff like getting us through covid, Ron's death etc.

I have no problem with folk dreaming btw. Whilst the phrase "it's the hope that kills you" holds some water, there's nothing quite like the anticipation of a new season, the start of a new cup competition or the start of any sort of new era where there is reason for optimism that this time it might be different.

I think on balance the Gordon era has, just about, been positive.

They have driven up the club's commercial revenue without really impacting the community/family feel of the club, there have been stadium improvements, and generally I feel quite positive about Hibs right now. As you say there have been mistakes (Maloney and Johnson) but there have also been a couple of decent managerial appointments in Ross and Montgomery (in my opinion). It's sad that Ron didn't live to see his full vision for the club play out... the man was very hard to dislike and his enthusiasm and optimism was infectious, and its a real shame that covid wrecked what was really good progress being made in 2020 and set back our plans. I look at numerous missed opportunities in the last 4.5 years, particularly in cup competitions and think if things had been slightly different... or if Jack Ross had worked out how to play against St Johnstone... it could have been one of the most successful periods in Hibs history.

[Alex Trager]

You’ve embellished what was on the PM board.

The details I provided were not on the PM board, you’re right.

[Paulie Walnuts]

I think on balance the Gordon era has, just about, been positive.

They have driven up the club's commercial revenue without really impacting the community/family feel of the club, there have been stadium improvements, and generally I feel quite positive about Hibs right now. As you say there have been mistakes (Maloney and Johnson) but there have also been a couple of decent managerial appointments in Ross and Montgomery (in my opinion). It's sad that Ron didn't live to see his full vision for the club play out... the man was very hard to dislike and his enthusiasm and optimism was infectious, and its a real shame that covid wrecked what was really good progress being made in 2020 and set back our plans. I look at numerous missed opportunities in the last 4.5 years, particularly in cup competitions and think if things had been slightly different... or if Jack Ross had worked out how to play against St Johnstone... it could have been one of the most successful periods in Hibs history.

Jack Ross was appointed pre Gordon era.

I think I’m a bit on the less enthused side with the Gordon era than you are, although I’m not too far from where you are. I liked Ron, don’t doubt he had good intentions, but from a football point of view, which is what really matters to me, the Gordon era has been pretty gash. I also think the club has moved away from being a community/family club to an extent and everything has become very corporate and has a feel of trying to squeeze everything they can out the fans. I get it’s a business, but I don’t feel like the club currently has the sort of feeling around it that we had before they came in.

Hopefully a bit investment can see the football side of things improve.

[CapitalGreen]

Jack Ross was appointed pre Gordon era.

I think I’m a bit on the less enthused side with the Gordon era than you are, although I’m not too far from where you are. I liked Ron, don’t doubt he had good intentions, but from a football point of view, which is what really matters to me, the Gordon era has been pretty gash. I also think the club has moved away from being a community/family club to an extent and everything has become very corporate and has a feel of trying to squeeze everything they can out the fans. I get it’s a business, but I don’t feel like the club currently has the sort of feeling around it that we had before they came in.

Hopefully a bit investment can see the football side of things improve.

Gordon bought Hibs in July 2019, Ross was appointed in November 2019.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Gordon bought Hibs in July 2019, Ross was appointed in November 2019.

So he was. I was thinking of when we appointed Heckingbottom which would have been around the February/March of that year.

[WhileTheChief..]

I think this is why I'm apprehensive - I'm a bit lukewarm about the Gordon era. Credit is most certainly due for aspects of what have gone on whilst they've owned us but mistakes have been made along the way too. They didn't take over with us in a bad position exactly and in the football sense we've failed to really make any progress so far despite spending a bit more money than before.

So as far as I'm concerned the jury's out on them so far whilst also allowing for stuff like getting us through covid, Ron's death etc.

I have no problem with folk dreaming btw. Whilst the phrase "it's the hope that kills you" holds some water, there's nothing quite like the anticipation of a new season, the start of a new cup competition or the start of any sort of new era where there is reason for optimism that this time it might be different.

I liked RG when he came in, and I totally bought into his 5 year plan and vision for the club.

However, I'm not so keen on things since his passing, and part of the reason I'm so relaxed about Foley's move is that I see it as a first step. I'd be entirely conformable if he manages to own us outright in future.

[007]

Hearts fans on JKB seemingly struggling to grasp the idea of a pyramid, obviously unaware that there is a team at the top and there are layers rather than individual clubs underneath. One reference to Hibs being third choice but dropping to fourth when Foley buys a Dutch club?

Lots of them jumping on quotes from the FC Lorient forum, conveniently glossing over the fact they are in the relegation zone and are (rightly or wrongly) wondering whether it's working for them.

Some of them also referencing Charlton being unhappy with being part of a similar set up, again overlooking their position within English football and seeing no progress, forgetting the fact that they've been a Championship/League 1 yo-yo club for a decade, having bounced out of the premier league and down to league 1 in 2013.

Hibs are the only club within the group with a realistic chance of European football this season, and even going in to next season. In fact this season, with a bit of a cash injection, we are very real favourites for European Group Stage football. Bournemouth are a very long shot, Lorient; no danger even though they're in the top flight. Do they really think Foley etc are not going to realise that Hibs are their only avenue in to European football in the short to medium term?

Others are questioning his motives, to which I would say why would he buy a minority share in Hibs for anything other than Footballing reasons?

Any idea what other teams the owners of Charlton have? Drawing a blank when I googled it.

[Jones28]

Any idea what other teams the owners of Charlton have? Drawing a blank when I googled it.

No idea on that one.

[007]

No idea on that one.

It looks to me like they don't have any other clubs so without knowing what comparisons with them the charity club's fans are making, I'd wager they're talking sh**e. Who'd have thunk?

[matty_f]

Jack Ross was appointed pre Gordon era.

I think I’m a bit on the less enthused side with the Gordon era than you are, although I’m not too far from where you are. I liked Ron, don’t doubt he had good intentions, but from a football point of view, which is what really matters to me, the Gordon era has been pretty gash. I also think the club has moved away from being a community/family club to an extent and everything has become very corporate and has a feel of trying to squeeze everything they can out the fans. I get it’s a business, but I don’t feel like the club currently has the sort of feeling around it that we had before they came in.

Hopefully a bit investment can see the football side of things improve.

Can you give some examples of how we're less of a community club than we were previously?

[James70]

I would like to know how it might affect our current management and coaching staff/systems.

Who will have the final say on players being brought in.

How will it affect our own development players.

We are always going to lose quality players to clubs with more money.

Awaiting developments.

[007]

Of the 33 ins/outs Lorient did in the summer only 1, Romain Faivre, was to or from Bournemouth. They got him on loan from Lyon in January, Bournemouth bought him for €15m in the summer and loaned him straight away to Lorient. Now the ultimate aim is probably for him to play for Bournemouth however in the meantime Lorient have a €15m player that Bouremouth paid for. Doesn't sound too shabby to me.

[matty_f]

I'm as guilty as anyone for getting carried away about this, and I think some of the concerns are absolutely valid and I'm glad that folk are expressing them - you need a critical view on things, that's healthy. I do think, on the flip side though, that we can afford ourselves the pleasure of moving away from thinking "this can't/doesn't/won't happen to Hibs" to "this is happening to Hibs" - whether it's an immediate improvement or something that takes a bit of time to achieve, these guys aren't getting involved to piss about at playing football manager.

They make their money back through growing the club and being successful, it's as simple as that. Foley's talked about supporting the club through sponsorship deals - if you want to sell sponsorship in Scotland it's a far easier pitch to a business to say you're going to be sponsoring a Europa League team than a mid-table Scottish Premiership team, for example. It's far easier to sell media rights or shirts or whatever for a successful team than it is for a struggling one.

Whichever way you cut it, for either the Gordons or the Black Knights, if they're coming into this with an exit strategy in a few years or even just for a vanity project of having a group of football clubs in their portfolio, the only way that works for them is for it to work for us.

A successful Hibs side is the goal for everyone involved, irrespective of whether part of that success is seeing players move to Bournemouth or wherever.

These guys have serious wealth behind them, Bournemouth spent in the region of £100m in the last window (I think, from what I've read on their forum), he's built an indoor training centre that's part of a wider training centre that's still under construction and he's going to build them a new stadium from what I gather. The Auckland franchise isn't being done for a muckabout, Lorient (although not succeeding yet) haven't been bought so they can watch it rot, and they're not investing in Hibs so they can spend a few quid and then forget about it.

It's true that none of us know the extent of the investment or what Foley's detailed plans are (although he's been very open with the high level, and that is an investment to make us third) and it might all turn out to be all fart and no sh**, but the opposite is true as well, and there's evidence that Foley puts his money where his mouth is, and we can look forward to some exciting times.

[ScottB]

Bloom is the owner of Brighton. I am led to believe he had a very real interest in taking an initial minority stake in Hibs leading to a full Gordon buyout in a few years time.

Whether any of that is true or not, I do not know. It was on the PM board as well.

I think I’d be more excited if it was, given Brighton genuinely seem to be better at scouting and developing talent than most, and have made use of their ‘network’ in the process of doing so.

I’m yet to see that this deal offers much more than money. Money is welcome of course, but as our neighbours show, you can have an advantage on that front and do nothing of note with it easily enough.

[matty_f]

I would like to know how it might affect our current management and coaching staff/systems.

Who will have the final say on players being brought in.

How will it affect our own development players.

We are always going to lose quality players to clubs with more money.

Awaiting developments.

I hope it massively disrupts what we do today because we will have access to better data, better scouting, a wider scouting network, better analysts etc

I would be massively disappointed if we weren't having to rip up plans on signings that we had our eye on within our existing budget and from our existing set up.

This should be a core benefit of the relationship, IMHO.

Hibs pay peanuts for analysts etc - we've commented many times on this forum when jobs have gone up for non-first team staff at HTC about the low salaries on offer. High quality staff will end up in higher paying jobs at bigger clubs, that's no disrespect at all to the guys at HTC now, we may very well have a team there that are good enough to work elsewhere, but we should now have access to folk working at the elite level of British football - it should be a point where our targets are reassessed in line with new knowledge, expertise, and budgets.

[Fanforlife]

I see yer man Sooks on JKB is taking the news well.he certainly has a huge problem with the idea of this deal working out in Hibs favour. Guy is a roaster who thinks he is an authority on all things Hearts so i think his sphicter is in twitching modeas he realises what this deal could bring for us,hence the pyramid chat,digging out Llororient fan groups etc. I may be wrong here but ive seen nothing from Foley or Hibs stating this is where this deal is going,only thing ive seen from Foley is he wants Hibs to regularly be 3rd and hopefully more,how can that be a bad thing?. But lets just take on board the havers of a hertz half wit eh!!

[Jones28]

I'm as guilty as anyone for getting carried away about this, and I think some of the concerns are absolutely valid and I'm glad that folk are expressing them - you need a critical view on things, that's healthy. I do think, on the flip side though, that we can afford ourselves the pleasure of moving away from thinking "this can't/doesn't/won't happen to Hibs" to "this is happening to Hibs" - whether it's an immediate improvement or something that takes a bit of time to achieve, these guys aren't getting involved to piss about at playing football manager.

They make their money back through growing the club and being successful, it's as simple as that. Foley's talked about supporting the club through sponsorship deals - if you want to sell sponsorship in Scotland it's a far easier pitch to a business to say you're going to be sponsoring a Europa League team than a mid-table Scottish Premiership team, for example. It's far easier to sell media rights or shirts or whatever for a successful team than it is for a struggling one.

Whichever way you cut it, for either the Gordons or the Black Knights, if they're coming into this with an exit strategy in a few years or even just for a vanity project of having a group of football clubs in their portfolio, the only way that works for them is for it to work for us.

A successful Hibs side is the goal for everyone involved, irrespective of whether part of that success is seeing players move to Bournemouth or wherever.

These guys have serious wealth behind them, Bournemouth spent in the region of £100m in the last window (I think, from what I've read on their forum), he's built an indoor training centre that's part of a wider training centre that's still under construction and he's going to build them a new stadium from what I gather. The Auckland franchise isn't being done for a muckabout, Lorient (although not succeeding yet) haven't been bought so they can watch it rot, and they're not investing in Hibs so they can spend a few quid and then forget about it.

It's true that none of us know the extent of the investment or what Foley's detailed plans are (although he's been very open with the high level, and that is an investment to make us third) and it might all turn out to be all fart and no sh**, but the opposite is true as well, and there's evidence that Foley puts his money where his mouth is, and we can look forward to some exciting times.

Agree with this, 100%.

I don't think anyone could even describe what the all-fart/no jobby scenario even looks like.

[Saint Hibee]

Can you give some examples of how we're less of a community club than we were previously?

I'll give you one: £36 for a ticket for a standard league game against Aberdeen. That's a huge increase on last year and one that many people just won't be able to afford.

[Bridge hibs]

Any idea what other teams the owners of Charlton have? Drawing a blank when I googled it.

Gabriel Brener is major backer for Charlton, he has no other stakes in any other football clubs and prior to taking over at Charlton he had minor stakes with Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Fc in which he sold

[ScottB]

I think, for me, the bigger question is how all this shakes out.

It’s reasonable to assume we won’t be the only club to partner up with one of these networks. Foley might be the first mover, with a potential goal of us being the ‘third force’ and what not, and that’s maybe an ‘easy’ enough aim for them to say as the only players in town, but it’s only going to take a few others; Brighton, Newcastle, Chelsea, City, Villa etc all have networks and could all cast their eyes north for the same reasons.

On top of that, we could end up in a world where us attracting players isn’t just on whether they want to play for Hibs, but who else is in our network, as it becomes likely those are your next steps… would you sign for Hibs with the chance of moving to Lorient then Bournemouth versus, let’s say, Hearts to USG to Brighton, or any of the other combinations that could emerge.


Generally speaking, is Hibs being bought by billionaires and joining a multi club network exciting? Yes it is.

Is having Bournemouth be the club at the top of that network exciting? Not particularly.

[matty_f]

I'll give you one: £36 for a ticket for a standard league game against Aberdeen. That's a huge increase on last year and one that many people just won't be able to afford.

How much was it last year?

[matty_f]

I think, for me, the bigger question is how all this shakes out.

It’s reasonable to assume we won’t be the only club to partner up with one of these networks. Foley might be the first mover, with a potential goal of us being the ‘third force’ and what not, and that’s maybe an ‘easy’ enough aim for them to say as the only players in town, but it’s only going to take a few others; Brighton, Newcastle, Chelsea, City, Villa etc all have networks and could all cast their eyes north for the same reasons.

On top of that, we could end up in a world where us attracting players isn’t just on whether they want to play for Hibs, but who else is in our network, as it becomes likely those are your next steps… would you sign for Hibs with the chance of moving to Lorient then Bournemouth versus, let’s say, Hearts to USG to Brighton, or any of the other combinations that could emerge.


Generally speaking, is Hibs being bought by billionaires and joining a multi club network exciting? Yes it is.

Is having Bournemouth be the club at the top of that network exciting? Not particularly.

I don't think it'll necessarily follow that a player coming to Hibs will need to go to Lorient to go to Bournemouth.

The advantage of having a Scottish club in the portfolio is the relatively easy access to European football and - maybe more importantly - a far more relaxed work permit acceptance criteria.

There's a good chance that players won't meet the very high bar that's set for playing in the English leagues, but they can get the requisite appearances etc in Scotland that makes a work permit for Bournemouth (or another EPL club) a formality.

That in itself opens up a much wider talent pool for Bournemouth (and by extension, us).

[superfurryhibby]

Can you give some examples of how we're less of a community club than we were previously?

The departure of people with very strong and enduring ties to the club, like Sue McLernan, Tam McCourt may feel like a departure from our Hibernian "family" approach. The sense that we milk fans for all their worth at times, like the charging to be a mascot, may also create that perception for some? (worth mentioning that the post you replied to mentioned family/community club).


I hope it massively disrupts what we do today because we will have access to better data, better scouting, a wider scouting network, better analysts etc

I would be massively disappointed if we weren't having to rip up plans on signings that we had our eye on within our existing budget and from our existing set up.

This should be a core benefit of the relationship, IMHO.

Hibs pay peanuts for analysts etc - we've commented many times on this forum when jobs have gone up for non-first team staff at HTC about the low salaries on offer. High quality staff will end up in higher paying jobs at bigger clubs, that's no disrespect at all to the guys at HTC now, we may very well have a team there that are good enough to work elsewhere, but we should now have access to folk working at the elite level of British football - it should be a point where our targets are reassessed in line with new knowledge, expertise, and budgets.

There's quite a lot of fairly wild conjecture in there Matty.

Any benefit from Foley is unlikely to see us ripping up plans already in place, well at least in the coming transfer window. I also have doubts that we would have access to folk working at the elite level of British football, they would already be pretty occupied with doing the job they're employed to do at Bournemouth?

Changes will happen, but they're not going to lead to an instant huge shift in how we operate.

I appreciate we are all desperate to see Hibs improve, develop, change, but there is a lot of hyperbole based on so far not a great deal of actual substance.

[Hibernian Verse]

I'll give you one: £36 for a ticket for a standard league game against Aberdeen. That's a huge increase on last year and one that many people just won't be able to afford.

Tickets were available for £32.00 for that game.

[matty_f]

The departure of people with very strong and enduring ties to the club, like Sue McLernan, Tam McCourt may feel like a departure from our Hibernian "family" approach. The sense that we milk fans for all their worth at times, like the charging to be a mascot, may also create that perception for some? (worth mentioning that the post you replied to mentioned family/community club).



There's quite a lot of fairly wild conjecture in their Matty.

Any benefit from Foley is unlikely to see us ripping up plans already in place, well at least in the coming transfer window. I also have doubts that we would have access to folk working at the elite level of British football, they would already be pretty occupied with doing the job they're employed to do at Bournemouth?

Changes will happen, but they're not going to lead to an instant huge shift in how we operate.

I appreciate we are all desperate to see Hibs improve, develop, change, but there is a lot of hyperbole based on so far not a great deal of actual substance.

Complete conjecture, I'm just giving my opinion on this which I think we all are?

It's worth noting that this hasn't happened overnight, the talks have been going on for a long time and there should be plans for if the investment happens and if it doesn't.

From the Evening News:


The Gordon family would remain the controlling force, but Foley would look to have a strong influence, aiming to deliver success with analysis, recruitment and hard cash. A deal is not expected to be completed until the new year.Foley has already told Hibs fans what to expect having recently spoken to the Men In Blazers podcast about the possibility of investing in Scotland: “I’m fascinated by the Scottish Premier League. They play hard, Scots are tough. They play a tough brand of football. And I believe there are opportunities to make one of the number four, five or six SPL teams, to get them to number three and they play in Europe.

“I believe we can pull that off with not a gigantic investment – and be a minority investor, be supportive of that club, and then work on sponsorship together because we have a whole sponsorship and I know we can help an SPL team. We’re working towards that goal right now with a particular team.”

It's not a massive jump to what I've posted.

[matty_f]

Tickets were available for £32.00 for that game.

Is £4 a "huge" increase?

FWIW, I argued that it was too expensive for those tickets, but I don't think that's an overnight thing that's come about from the Gordons' involvement.

[Saint Hibee]

Is £4 a "huge" increase?

FWIW, I argued that it was too expensive for those tickets, but I don't think that's an overnight thing that's come about from the Gordons' involvement.

In the east stand, it was £26, so I think a £10 increase can fairly be called "huge". But you may well be correct that this is part of a broader trend rather than specifically tied to the Gordons per se, I just don't know if other clubs are increasing their tickets at a similar rate.

[Lago]

Well what to think? Good deal or bad deal I really don't think there is enough information in the public domain to say yes or no, but to me one thing is clear, the current situation in Scotland is only going to result in a continuing decline in the quality of football in this country. We've been fortunate that Steve Clark has steadied the international team but domestically, club football is turgid, uninspiring stuff. I can't see any evidence that Hibs as a club could grow organically to routinely achieve 3rd place, in what is after all a poor league. The alternative, inward investment, which appears to be what is currently being proposed, we should grab the opportunity with both hands while offering up a silent prayer that, as someone said, it doesn't go tits up.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Can you give some examples of how we're less of a community club than we were previously?

Superfurryhibby and Saint have roughly covered it. I’m not sure being a community club and charging for absolutely everything you possibly can, increasing prices massively etc go together. We’ve removed a free to access bar and replaced it with a bar that carries a significant entry fee, removed what was a reasonably priced hospitality and replaced it with one that a lot of people who used to use it simply cannot now justify, added in the gold, silver seating etc meaning people either needed to stump up more money or move out of seats they’ve had for years, started charging kids to be mascots.. the departure of people who have been huge parts of the Hibs community like Tam and Sue.

I know that it has lead to an increase in turnover, and that’s absolutely fine. That’s come at the cost of us losing our sense of being a community club to an extent though I’d say. Whether it’s been worth the trade off or not is down to personal opinion, I certainly don’t think we can claim to have the same sense of community club that we used to anymore though.

[matty_f]

In the east stand, it was £26, so I think a £10 increase can fairly be called "huge". But you may well be correct that this is part of a broader trend rather than specifically tied to the Gordons per se, I just don't know if other clubs are increasing their tickets at a similar rate.

That's a big leap.- like I said, I argued at the time it was too expensive.

I guess the club would argue that everything's more expensive for them as well, inflation has hit everybody. Not that I'm defending it, but that would be the argument I suspect we'd get.

[Pagan Hibernia]

Superfurryhibby and Saint have roughly covered it. I’m not sure being a community club and charging for absolutely everything you possibly can, increasing prices massively etc go together. We’ve removed a free to access bar and replaced it with a bar that carries a significant entry fee, removed what was a reasonably priced hospitality and replaced it with one that a lot of people who used to use it simply cannot now justify, added in the gold, silver seating etc meaning people either needed to stump up more money or move out of seats they’ve had for years, started charging kids to be mascots.. the departure of people who have been huge parts of the Hibs community like Tam and Sue.

I know that it has lead to an increase in turnover, and that’s absolutely fine. That’s come at the cost of us losing our sense of being a community club to an extent though I’d say. Whether it’s been worth the trade off or not is down to personal opinion, I certainly don’t think we can claim to have the same sense of community club that we used to anymore though.

All fair points tbh, ditching the programme too was a commercial decision but one that annoyed more than a few traditional supporters.

On the other hand there have been a number of discounted games, and the Hibernian Community Foundation just gets stronger and stronger.

It's good and bad.

[matty_f]

Superfurryhibby and Saint have roughly covered it. I’m not sure being a community club and charging for absolutely everything you possibly can, increasing prices massively etc go together. We’ve removed a free to access bar and replaced it with a bar that carries a significant entry fee, removed what was a reasonably priced hospitality and replaced it with one that a lot of people who used to use it simply cannot now justify, added in the gold, silver seating etc meaning people either needed to stump up more money or move out of seats they’ve had for years, started charging kids to be mascots.. the departure of people who have been huge parts of the Hibs community like Tam and Sue.

I know that it has lead to an increase in turnover, and that’s absolutely fine. That’s come at the cost of us losing our sense of being a community club to an extent though I’d say. Whether it’s been worth the trade off or not is down to personal opinion, I certainly don’t think we can claim to have the same sense of community club that we used to anymore though.

I agree with a lot of that, but I don't necessarily agree that charging people what something is worth is not community minded (and Hibs would argue that it's worth what they charge because people pay it).

Hibs have also done loads for the community - there's a silent auction run by the Community Foundation going on just now for example, there's Christmas dinners being supplied on Christmas days, they put lunches on for free for people in the community regularly.

We've lost the community attachment only if you equate it with charging for stuff and don't take into account the stuff the club does - including some brilliant work on mental health and fitness.

I just think it's a lazy accusation to throw out because the club have realised that they had to increase prices to support improving the team. As a non-Tory, I would love everything to be cheap as chips so everyone could go, but I also am realistic enough to know that the club needs money to strive, and they get that through their supporters.

They also give away a whack of tickets to games as well, by the way.

[matty_f]

All fair points tbh, ditching the programme too was a commercial decision but one that annoyed more than a few traditional supporters.

On the other hand there have been a number of discounted games, and the Hibernian Community Foundation just gets stronger and stronger.

It's good and bad.

I could have probably just said this, in hindsight. :greengrin

[mcohibs]

Is having Bournemouth be the club at the top of that network exciting? Not particularly.

Bournemouth are sitting comfortably in the most lucrative league in world football, having just pumped Man Utd and Newcastle in recent weeks. With one of the most in-form strikers in the league. They spent £120 million in the summer transfer market.

I’m honestly unsure as to how much more ‘exciting’ a club some people would realistically think we could be linked with.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Paulie Walnuts]

All fair points tbh, ditching the programme too was a commercial decision but one that annoyed more than a few traditional supporters.

On the other hand there have been a number of discounted games, and the Hibernian Community Foundation just gets stronger and stronger.

It's good and bad.

Up until this season i’ve always had a season ticket so I’ve never paid much attention to discounted games/the amount of them.

I’m not saying it’s a bad thing necessarily, it’s arguably a necessary evil to be able to remain competitive. It’s still the case though that we’re not as much of a community club as we were previously though imo.

[WhileTheChief..]

It will cost Foley a lot less to see Hibs playing in the Champs League than it will for him to see Bournemouth there!

[hibsforeurope]

The most exciting part for me is to see Hibs reach their potential, we've known for year that we have underachieved and should be doing much better on all fronts than we have done.

Seeing what Easter Road can become is exciting, be it expansion in capacity, improvements and increases in the hospitality offering, fans bars, improved curb appeal, (a roof/helipad), etc. i personally can't wait to see what happens.

Making HTC the best it can possibly be, the land has so much potential. I see Aberdeen are looking to make McCormack park the permanent home of the Aberdeen woman's team by building the countries 1st dedicated SWPL stadium, this is some thing that we can produce (make it another 1st for Hibs).

Watching the 1st team, and all teams in the club, improve and ultimately win more games.

The sooner this happens the better as far as I'm concerned.

[Bridge hibs]

Is £4 a "huge" increase?

FWIW, I argued that it was too expensive for those tickets, but I don't think that's an overnight thing that's come about from the Gordons' involvement.Football in general is ridiculously expensive but blame cant be apportioned to one individual as its been on the rise even since I was paying the princely sum of 50p to gain entry

I suppose theres that old saying that if you want quality on the pitch then you have to pay for it, but there comes a point where there has to be a ceiling and punters will just say **** it my money is going on something else now, that said its not just about 22 players on the pitch, the whole experience is costly and moreso if you have kids on tow, add in extortionate food/drinks, fuel, match day programme etc

However the flip side of that is we could have a build it and they will come scenario if and a big if we got group stages in Europe, qualified for Champions league, won a domestic cup and were playing really exciting football then I think although there will always be complaints about prices (and quite rightly so) people whether the loyal core or maybe by attracting new fans then I bet that magical money tree will will be well shaken, mines certainly will

**** sake hearts have 7000 + on a waiting list for season tickets, whats the ****ing attraction for those plebs, the team are hardly battering the league and prices are obviously not deterring them, has Europe or the prospect of playing in Europe inspired them ?

If so then I want a slice of that ****ing cake

[Paulie Walnuts]

I agree with a lot of that, but I don't necessarily agree that charging people what something is worth is not community minded (and Hibs would argue that it's worth what they charge because people pay it).

Hibs have also done loads for the community - there's a silent auction run by the Community Foundation going on just now for example, there's Christmas dinners being supplied on Christmas days, they put lunches on for free for people in the community regularly.

We've lost the community attachment only if you equate it with charging for stuff and don't take into account the stuff the club does - including some brilliant work on mental health and fitness.

I just think it's a lazy accusation to throw out because the club have realised that they had to increase prices to support improving the team. As a non-Tory, I would love everything to be cheap as chips so everyone could go, but I also am realistic enough to know that the club needs money to strive, and they get that through their supporters.

They also give away a whack of tickets to games as well, by the way.

Fair enough. I admittedly don’t pay a lot of attention to alot of the stuff you’ve mentioned so I probably am mainly looking at it from a charging for stuff point of view. I think I look back to a lot of my best memories of following Hibs - being a mascot (for free), usually going to the hospitality once a season, for what was a much more affordable price than our current offering, going for a pint at Behind The Goals with family before the games etc and alot of that has been put out of reach financially for a massive amount of our fans now.

As you’ve said, the club will argue that was needed to support the team. That’s fine. I’m not even saying they’ve been wrong to do so. I do think the trade off has been to reduce the feeling of community around Hibs though, at least in terms of the parts of Hibs (mainly just the football/match day side of things) I pay attention to. But then I say that as someone who doesn’t use the club for mental health support, a Christmas dinner, fitness etc.

[Corstorphine Hibby]

Football in general is ridiculously expensive but blame cant be apportioned to one individual as its been on the rise even since I was paying the princely sum of 50p to gain entry

I suppose theres that old saying that if you want quality on the pitch then you have to pay for it, but there comes a point where there has to be a ceiling and punters will just say **** it my money is going on something else now, that said its not just about 22 players on the pitch, the whole experience is costly and moreso if you have kids on tow, add in extortionate food/drinks, fuel, match day programme etc

However the flip side of that is we could have a build it and they will come scenario if and a big if we got group stages in Europe, qualified for Champions league, won a domestic cup and were playing really exciting football then I think although there will always be complaints about prices (and quite rightly so) people whether the loyal core or maybe by attracting new fans then I bet that magical money tree will will be well shaken, mines certainly will

**** sake hearts have 7000 + on a waiting list for season tickets, whats the ****ing attraction for those plebs, the team are hardly battering the league and prices are obviously not deterring them, has Europe or the prospect of playing in Europe inspired them ?

If so then I want a slice of that ****ing cake

I think that even hearts fans would admit the 7000 waiting list chat is a load of pish.

[matty_f]

Fair enough. I admittedly don’t pay a lot of attention to alot of the stuff you’ve mentioned so I probably am mainly looking at it from a charging for stuff point of view. I think I look back to a lot of my best memories of following Hibs - being a mascot (for free), usually going to the hospitality once a season, for what was a much more affordable price than our current offering, going for a pint at Behind The Goals with family before the games etc and alot of that has been put out of reach financially for a massive amount of our fans now.

As you’ve said, the club will argue that was needed to support the team. That’s fine. I’m not even saying they’ve been wrong to do so. I do think the trade off has been to reduce the feeling of community around Hibs though, at least in terms of the parts of Hibs (mainly just the football/match day side of things) I pay attention to.

They still do free mascot packages as well, it's not exclusively paid for.

Anyway, I get that this is way off topic and it's totally a subjective thing so I can't say your opinion is wrong because it's how you feel.

[Bridge hibs]

I think that even hearts fans would admit the 7000 waiting list chat is a load of pish.

Of course it is, its went down from 10,000 😀

[NAE NOOKIE]

Reading this thread I get the distinct feeling that what we are looking at is Schrodinger's fitba club. Until you open the box nobody really has any idea whether a deal like this would work for us or not.

If this is about footballing success then of all the clubs this group have a stake in, in the long run Hibs actually seem the best bet.

Bournemouth ... best ever league position 9th .... with a host of giants to compete with all equally, if not more, rich than they are. What are the realistic prospects of turning them into a Champion's league club on anything like a regular basis, or even FA cup winners?

Lorient .... Best ever league position 7th .... Have to compete with PSG, Lyon, Olympic Marseille and several other clubs bigger than them.

Auckland FC .... Probably wouldn't take much to make them competitive in the A league. But Europe gets you the kudos and publicity, not the southern hemisphere ... if they won the A league who would notice and how big could they get in a country dominated by Rugby?

Hibs ... Relatively of all the clubs on the list we can be classed as a 'big club' in the context of the league we play in. For half the outlay it would take to make AFC Bournemouth a Champions league club once every 10 years you could have Hibs competing with Celtic and Rangers and in the CL every year .... to break that duopoly would make headlines all over the world.

I'm not even being funny when I say I wonder how long it would take for it to dawn on the Black Knights group that Hibs should be their flagship club .. not Bournemouth.

:greengrin

[Hibernian Verse]

Is £4 a "huge" increase?

FWIW, I argued that it was too expensive for those tickets, but I don't think that's an overnight thing that's come about from the Gordons' involvement.

I meant you could buy £32 tickets for the Aberdeen game just past, rather than the £36 gold tickets that was used to show Hibs in a bad light.

[matty_f]

Reading this thread I get the distinct feeling that what we are looking at is Schrodinger's fitba club. Until you open the box nobody really has any idea whether a deal like this would work for us or not.

If this is about footballing success then of all the clubs this group have a stake in, in the long run Hibs actually seem the best bet.

Bournemouth ... best ever league position 9th .... with a host of giants to compete with all equally, if not more, rich than they are. What are the realistic prospects of turning them into a Champion's league club on anything like a regular basis, or even FA cup winners?

Lorient .... Best ever league position 7th .... Have to compete with PSG, Lyon, Olympic Marseille and several other clubs bigger than them.

Auckland FC .... Probably wouldn't take much to make them competitive in the A league. But Europe gets you the kudos and publicity, not the southern hemisphere ... if they won the A league who would notice and how big could they get in a country dominated by Rugby?

Hibs ... Relatively of all the clubs on the list we can be classed as a 'big club' in the context of the league we play in. For half the outlay it would take to make AFC Bournemouth a Champions league club once every 10 years you could have Hibs competing with Celtic and Rangers and in the CL every year .... to break that duopoly would make headlines all over the world.

I'm not even being funny when I say I wonder how long it would take for it to dawn on the Black Knights group that Hibs should be their flagship club .. not Bournemouth.

:greengrin

Had this discussion on the podcast last night - Foley could have a Champions League team in his portfolio without Hibs much easier than he could elsewhere.

[Hibernian Verse]

In the east stand, it was £26, so I think a £10 increase can fairly be called "huge". But you may well be correct that this is part of a broader trend rather than specifically tied to the Gordons per se, I just don't know if other clubs are increasing their tickets at a similar rate.

As above, you’ve picked the most expensive ticket. It’s a £6 increase if £26 was the most expensive, which I’m fairly sure it wasn’t.

[McD]

Superfurryhibby and Saint have roughly covered it. I’m not sure being a community club and charging for absolutely everything you possibly can, increasing prices massively etc go together. We’ve removed a free to access bar and replaced it with a bar that carries a significant entry fee, removed what was a reasonably priced hospitality and replaced it with one that a lot of people who used to use it simply cannot now justify, added in the gold, silver seating etc meaning people either needed to stump up more money or move out of seats they’ve had for years, started charging kids to be mascots.. the departure of people who have been huge parts of the Hibs community like Tam and Sue.

I know that it has lead to an increase in turnover, and that’s absolutely fine. That’s come at the cost of us losing our sense of being a community club to an extent though I’d say. Whether it’s been worth the trade off or not is down to personal opinion, I certainly don’t think we can claim to have the same sense of community club that we used to anymore though.



Taking on board your wider post (some valid points btw), but wasn’t BTG closed before RG came into the club?

[CapitalGreen]

A lot of chat about the risks of this happening. What potential risks do people see if we let this pass?

- Can no longer keep up with the spending of Aberdeen & Hearts?
- Foley chooses to invest with a rival?
- No great change but we continue bobbing along averaging 5th place in the league and a cup every 15 years?

[Ringothedog]

Taking on board your wider post (some valid points btw), but wasn’t BTG closed before RG came into the club?

Yes

[Paulie Walnuts]

Taking on board your wider post (some valid points btw), but wasn’t BTG closed before RG came into the club?

I’m not sure actually.

[jeffers]

Had this discussion on the podcast last night - Foley could have a Champions League team in his portfolio without Hibs much easier than he could elsewhere.

It does make you wonder though (well me at least) why ? While it’s not impossible are any of the other clubs in the Black Knight portfolio ever going to really reach the heights ? While there may be a bit of dreaming regarding us it’s not as far fetched as it sounds.

[ScottB]

Bournemouth are sitting comfortably in the most lucrative league in world football, having just pumped Man Utd and Newcastle in recent weeks. With one of the most in-form strikers in the league. They spent £120 million in the summer transfer market.

I’m honestly unsure as to how much more ‘exciting’ a club some people would realistically think we could be linked with.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I mean, a couple weeks ago they looked to be in a relegation fight.

Does any player in football dream of playing for Bournemouth? No. Are they any sort of big or historic club? No. Do they have a history, or even recent evidence of being particularly skilled at finding or developing players? Not really.

My point was, as these club networks become the norm, they will become a factor for us in recruitment, in terms of it being not just do you want to play for Hibs, but what does your career trajectory look like if all goes well.

Additionally, if Bournemouth think Scotland is a good market to buy in, what happens when other clubs do the same; bigger, richer, more successful ones?

On paper, Hibs are an attractive prospect for any network to buy into, in a world where Bournemouth, Brighton, Newcastle, Chelsea, Man City, Villa and more all seem to be buying into clubs across the world, is Bournemouth the best bet to hitch our wagon to?

I’m not against the concept of it, just that I’m not convinced they bring all that much beyond some cash, and how would we feel if before long, some of our rivals find themselves owned by Man City, Newcastle or others…

[ScottB]

Had this discussion on the podcast last night - Foley could have a Champions League team in his portfolio without Hibs much easier than he could elsewhere.

Celtic’s best hope for Champions League football is scraping into the groups and maybe falling into the EL.

There’s no way anyone could do that at Hibs under FFP, and Scotland's coefficient is going down, not up.

Conference or Europa group stage is probably the ceiling for Scottish football as a whole going forward, which is a reasonable aim for Hibs with a bigger budget, but you’d need to boost Celtic’s already much bigger budget to have any sort of success in the CL, beyond just getting thumped every week if they even make it that far…

[A Hi-Bee]

Until we hear otherwise it is all speculation but for me, this is an offering from the gods after so many years of watching my club underperform and along with the lack of investment, money taken out and never put back in, what an opportunity this could turn out to be.
Better quality players takes money, better and larger stadium takes money, all achievable and with the corners at Easter Road filled in with a stadium capacity of around 28,000 that is a good figure to aim for in future and it will take a wee while to get to this end. No wonder the jambos are having a fit and squawking like starving seagulls.
The only real downside I can see short term is the lack of car parking space to hold the tail-gate parties.
Bring it on, Scottish football has been boring for way too long, outside of the 2 cheeks, its never been a level playing field, be that financial or the way the rules of the game are administered, now we can level things up a wee bit and give our team a fighting chance to reach potential. Who would be a jambo eh!
:partyhibb no gonna worry about the day thats no arrived, this could be a win win time will tell, but it sure as hell will not be as boring as being a jambo.

[Alex Trager]

I'm as guilty as anyone for getting carried away about this, and I think some of the concerns are absolutely valid and I'm glad that folk are expressing them - you need a critical view on things, that's healthy. I do think, on the flip side though, that we can afford ourselves the pleasure of moving away from thinking "this can't/doesn't/won't happen to Hibs" to "this is happening to Hibs" - whether it's an immediate improvement or something that takes a bit of time to achieve, these guys aren't getting involved to piss about at playing football manager.

They make their money back through growing the club and being successful, it's as simple as that. Foley's talked about supporting the club through sponsorship deals - if you want to sell sponsorship in Scotland it's a far easier pitch to a business to say you're going to be sponsoring a Europa League team than a mid-table Scottish Premiership team, for example. It's far easier to sell media rights or shirts or whatever for a successful team than it is for a struggling one.

Whichever way you cut it, for either the Gordons or the Black Knights, if they're coming into this with an exit strategy in a few years or even just for a vanity project of having a group of football clubs in their portfolio, the only way that works for them is for it to work for us.

A successful Hibs side is the goal for everyone involved, irrespective of whether part of that success is seeing players move to Bournemouth or wherever.

These guys have serious wealth behind them, Bournemouth spent in the region of £100m in the last window (I think, from what I've read on their forum), he's built an indoor training centre that's part of a wider training centre that's still under construction and he's going to build them a new stadium from what I gather. The Auckland franchise isn't being done for a muckabout, Lorient (although not succeeding yet) haven't been bought so they can watch it rot, and they're not investing in Hibs so they can spend a few quid and then forget about it.

It's true that none of us know the extent of the investment or what Foley's detailed plans are (although he's been very open with the high level, and that is an investment to make us third) and it might all turn out to be all fart and no sh**, but the opposite is true as well, and there's evidence that Foley puts his money where his mouth is, and we can look forward to some exciting times.
All that is true Matty, but there have to be questions about what happens if it all goes tits up?

What happens if they say na this isn’t working we’re pulling out. What would happen to the club?

Would we be saddled with debt? Would we have to rebuild the structure of the club?


There’ll be other areas I can’t think of right now that would be a concern.

I appreciate you won’t have answers but it’s worth noting these extreme concerns.

[CapitalGreen]

Does any player in football dream of playing for Bournemouth? No. Are they any sort of big or historic club? No. Do they have a history, or even recent evidence of being particularly skilled at finding or developing players? Not really.

My point was, as these club networks become the norm, they will become a factor for us in recruitment, in terms of it being not just do you want to play for Hibs, but what does your career trajectory look like if all goes well.


The fact they play in the EPL will trump anything about dreams or history for nearly every player in the game.

[Not In The Know]

I think, for me, the bigger question is how all this shakes out.


Is having Bournemouth be the club at the top of that network exciting? Not particularly.


A good few years ago would anyone be excited about being linked with Man City in Englands 3rd tier??? nah - its amazing how things can change...

[mcohibs]

I mean, a couple weeks ago they looked to be in a relegation fight.

Does any player in football dream of playing for Bournemouth? No. Are they any sort of big or historic club? No. Do they have a history, or even recent evidence of being particularly skilled at finding or developing players? Not really.

My point was, as these club networks become the norm, they will become a factor for us in recruitment, in terms of it being not just do you want to play for Hibs, but what does your career trajectory look like if all goes well.

Additionally, if Bournemouth think Scotland is a good market to buy in, what happens when other clubs do the same; bigger, richer, more successful ones?

On paper, Hibs are an attractive prospect for any network to buy into, in a world where Bournemouth, Brighton, Newcastle, Chelsea, Man City, Villa and more all seem to be buying into clubs across the world, is Bournemouth the best bet to hitch our wagon to?

I’m not against the concept of it, just that I’m not convinced they bring all that much beyond some cash, and how would we feel if before long, some of our rivals find themselves owned by Man City, Newcastle or others…

There are thousands of professional football players across world football that would dream of a move to any EPL team, and would walk to Bournemouth at the drop of a hat.

So we should pass up this opportunity and wait and see if Man City come calling in a few years? As far as I’m aware there’s not a number of billionaire owners banging on the door of Scottish football clubs for us to take our pick from.

There’s obviously a lot of unanswered questions and hypotheticals but the prospect here is that Hibs could lead the charge with this type of network in Scotland, and the possibility (at least that quoted by interested parties) is that we could become a consistent third force domestically.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Not In The Know]

It does make you wonder though (well me at least) why ? While it’s not impossible are any of the other clubs in the Black Knight portfolio ever going to really reach the heights ? While there may be a bit of dreaming regarding us it’s not as far fetched as it sounds.

mentioned this before - in the inevitable europen super league having a team from Edinburgh (one of the European top capitals) is a desirable option...

[Not In The Know]

All that is true Matty, but there have to be questions about what happens if it all goes tits up?

What happens if they say na this isn’t working we’re pulling out. What would happen to the club?

Would we be saddled with debt? Would we have to rebuild the structure of the club?


There’ll be other areas I can’t think of right now that would be a concern.

I appreciate you won’t have answers but it’s worth noting these extreme concerns.


Jambos have basically done that twice - it's not done them any harm.

[matty_f]

Celtic’s best hope for Champions League football is scraping into the groups and maybe falling into the EL.

There’s no way anyone could do that at Hibs under FFP, and Scotland's coefficient is going down, not up.

Conference or Europa group stage is probably the ceiling for Scottish football as a whole going forward, which is a reasonable aim for Hibs with a bigger budget, but you’d need to boost Celtic’s already much bigger budget to have any sort of success in the CL, beyond just getting thumped every week if they even make it that far…

I suspect you’re right with this, the flip side is it depends on the ambitions of the owners and their backers. Celtic’s owner isn’t bothered about competing in the Champions League, they are content to just get there. I’m sure in their last accounts they had £70m sitting in the bank - if they were serious about competing in the CL they could do more than they do. There are teams with smaller budgets (I think) who do better.


Edit - I’m not suggesting we’re going into the Champions League, by the way.

[A Hi-Bee]

:partyhibb Who would wish to be a jambo, the future may be very bright it may be green and white.

[.Sean.]

Yes
No it wasn’t

[Just Alf]

Taking on board your wider post (some valid points btw), but wasn’t BTG closed before RG came into the club?It was... it had become a money pit rather than a positive in terms of finances.

Hopefully the work in the main stand if replicated in the FF will be an additional boost to the overall offering.

[Just Alf]

That's a big leap.- like I said, I argued at the time it was too expensive.

I guess the club would argue that everything's more expensive for them as well, inflation has hit everybody. Not that I'm defending it, but that would be the argument I suspect we'd get.In really simple terms, my JUST EAT indian/Chinese is almost double for the same order compared to pre covid.

[Jones28]

I’m not sure actually.

It was, closed under LD.

[Lago]

:top marks
Until we hear otherwise it is all speculation but for me, this is an offering from the gods after so many years of watching my club underperform and along with the lack of investment, money taken out and never put back in, what an opportunity this could turn out to be.
Better quality players takes money, better and larger stadium takes money, all achievable and with the corners at Easter Road filled in with a stadium capacity of around 28,000 that is a good figure to aim for in future and it will take a wee while to get to this end. No wonder the jambos are having a fit and squawking like starving seagulls.
The only real downside I can see short term is the lack of car parking space to hold the tail-gate parties.
Bring it on, Scottish football has been boring for way too long, outside of the 2 cheeks, its never been a level playing field, be that financial or the way the rules of the game are administered, now we can level things up a wee bit and give our team a fighting chance to reach potential. Who would be a jambo eh!
:partyhibb no gonna worry about the day thats no arrived, this could be a win win time will tell, but it sure as hell will not be as boring as being a jambo.

[JohnM1875]

In really simple terms, my JUST EAT indian/Chinese is almost double for the same order compared to pre covid.

Just Eat don’t pride the themselves on being family and community oriented though. Cost a family about £100 to go to some games. Absolutely mental.

[Garymcl]

I’m all for this after all the checks are done agree with a couple on this site that I’m in my 60s a bit bored with the same old mundane season after season nothing really happening I would personally take a gamble (aka Romanov era at hearts) ask most jambos they will tell you most enjoyable period in modern history yes I know nearly went bust but there will always be someone saving the two Edinburgh clubs I want trophies and regular European football at the Leith San Siro

[bingo70]

Just Eat don’t pride the themselves on being family and community oriented though. Cost a family about £100 to go to some games. Absolutely mental.

For context though, Musselburgh races on January 1st would cost a family of 4 £140, more if they don’t pay in advance for tickets.

I’d also guess £100 is in line with our closest competitors. Hearts will be about the same.

FWIW £100 is too much, I agree with you entirely, I just think it’s in line with what things cost though. We aren’t some big greedy corporation that’s exploiting the community. It’s just an expensive time to be alive 😂

[Just Alf]

Just Eat don’t pride the themselves on being family and community oriented though. Cost a family about £100 to go to some games. Absolutely mental.Crazy .. :agree:

[CapitalGreen]

Just Eat don’t pride the themselves on being family and community oriented though. Cost a family about £100 to go to some games. Absolutely mental.

How should Hibs stay solvent without increasing income in line with expenditure? It’s not as if prices are going up and we are reporting mega profits and dividends for shareholders - prices are going up so we can pay our bills. There is nothing community oriented about a football club going bust.

[JohnM1875]

How should Hibs stay solvent without increasing income in line with expenditure? It’s not as if prices are going up and we are reporting mega profits and dividends for shareholders - prices are going up so we can pay our bills. There is nothing community oriented about a football club going bust.


For context though, Musselburgh races on January 1st would cost a family of 4 £140, more if they don’t pay in advance for tickets.

I’d also guess £100 is in line with our closest competitors. Hearts will be about the same.

FWIW £100 is too much, I agree with you entirely, I just think it’s in line with what things cost though. We aren’t some big greedy corporation that’s exploiting the community. It’s just an expensive time to be alive 😂

Totally understand it’s not just Hibs and I’m not saying I don’t understand the reasons why. I’ll just never agree with those kind of prices.

[matty_f]

How should Hibs stay solvent without increasing income in line with expenditure? It’s not as if prices are going up and we are reporting mega profits and dividends for shareholders - prices are going up so we can pay our bills. There is nothing community oriented about a football club going bust.

I think this is key and also that the cost of tickets should be considered along with Hibs also managing giving free tickets away regularly. If we acknowledge one, then the other should be acknowledged imho.

Anyway, before someone thinks because I’ve been excitable on this thread that I’m some sort of mouthpiece for the club, I genuinely do think that £35-£36 for Aberdeen at Easter Road is too expensive and that it would be great if Hibs could find a way to lessen the cost of going to games instead of increasing it.

[Iain G]

There is a lot of noise around this Foley character.

[MagicSwirlingShip]

There is a lot of noise around this Foley character.

The Dude Love’s Hibs

[JohnM1875]

The Dude Love’s Hibs

Niche. I like it.

[CropleyWasGod]

There is a lot of noise around this Foley character.

Neil Diamond-style Beautiful, or Slade-style Noize.

[El Gubbz]

I think this is key and also that the cost of tickets should be considered along with Hibs also managing giving free tickets away regularly. If we acknowledge one, then the other should be acknowledged imho.

Anyway, before someone thinks because I’ve been excitable on this thread that I’m some sort of mouthpiece for the club, I genuinely do think that £35-£36 for Aberdeen at Easter Road is too expensive and that it would be great if Hibs could find a way to lessen the cost of going to games instead of increasing it.

Sure booze sales in the ground would help subsidise ticket prices and be a nice little earner for clubs :-)

[King Cosell]

I think this is key and also that the cost of tickets should be considered along with Hibs also managing giving free tickets away regularly. If we acknowledge one, then the other should be acknowledged imho.

Anyway, before someone thinks because I’ve been excitable on this thread that I’m some sort of mouthpiece for the club, I genuinely do think that £35-£36 for Aberdeen at Easter Road is too expensive and that it would be great if Hibs could find a way to lessen the cost of going to games instead of increasing it.

Prices for Aberdeen are excessive, no question about that. Shouldn't be a Cat A game.


For Hearts & the Old Firm, it's a bit pricey, but I'm sure those prices will be frozen for a few years, while other clubs increase theirs.

Prices for the rest of our games, £26 & £28, are the going rate. Ross County £28, Livi £27.50, Dundee £26, St Mirren £26 etc.

[Libby Hibby]

I’m both excited about this as I am wary but at least it’s happening at my club.

I think I’d be asking questions if investment was going into another club outwith the OF.

Nobody really knows what is going to happen but one thing is for sure, the Jambos are jealous AF.

[jacomo]

mentioned this before - in the inevitable europen super league having a team from Edinburgh (one of the European top capitals) is a desirable option...


You might be not in the know, but I think you’re onto something here.

[EastStandGates]

Prices for Aberdeen are excessive, no question about that. Shouldn't be a Cat A game.


For Hearts & the Old Firm, it's a bit pricey, but I'm sure those prices will be frozen for a few years, while other clubs increase theirs.

Prices for the rest of our games, £26 & £28, are the going rate. Ross County £28, Livi £27.50, Dundee £26, St Mirren £26 etc.

OF tickets are the most over-priced out the lot IMO. A game with little chance of winning, bar the odd exception always on the box, and generally for the "hype" of it being a Category A match they're quite poorly attended. Priced what they are for no other reason than maximising revenue from a guaranteed sold out away end.

Regarding ticket prices on a wider-scale, they're expensive for the older ones who can remember terracing days when it was a lot more affordable and can do a comparison, but for a lot of our fans who will only have been going since the all seater days, they won't know any different so the prices are what they are. So long as season tickets offer a saving, and we offer fans less fortunate the £5 ticket deal for a chance to get to the match, and still get some tickets to the charities, they don't bother me to much.

[matty_f]

Sure booze sales in the ground would help subsidise ticket prices and be a nice little earner for clubs :-)

Sounds good to me!

[007]

I’m both excited about this as I am wary but at least it’s happening at my club.

I think I’d be asking questions if investment was going into another club outwith the OF.

Nobody really knows what is going to happen but one thing is for sure, the Jambos are jealous AF.

I am not surprised the chugger victims are panicking.

Future investment plans will probably feature quite heavily at their AGM because of what's happening with us.

[Aldo]

I am not surprised the chugger victims are panicking.

Future investment plans will probably feature quite heavily at their AGM because of what's happening with us.

They are definitely not panicking or jealous. They’ve got a super duper one if it’s kind hotel in the megadome wall of glass office block stand to chat about.

O 1-5 and own a hotel

[007]

They are definitely not panicking or jealous. They’ve got a super duper one if it’s kind hotel in the megadome wall of glass office block stand to chat about.

O 1-5 and own a hotel

We won't be able to compete with them now they've got the Bellendagio.

[leith lynx]

They are definitely not panicking or jealous. They’ve got a super duper one if it’s kind hotel in the megadome wall of glass office block stand to chat about.

O 1-5 and own a hotel

Imagine the seethe when their 'hotel' is fully booked with Real Madrid fans staying over to watch their team trying to compete with Foleys high flying Hi-bees over the road at Murrayfield in the champions league 😀

[Green Reaper]

KB is a hoot, lots of straw clutching and comfort blankets. A lot is being made of the fact that FOH would have to vote 90% in favour for someone to buy into them. Nobody has mentioned how that 90% vote could actually hinder them in future if other,esp EPL',clubs look to buy into SPFL clubs in a similar manner, think this may already be ongoing with D Utd/Burnley, and could actually end up seeing hertz left behind, maybe just getting my hopes up to much!

[blackpoolhibs]

Imagine the seethe when their 'hotel' is fully booked with Real Madrid fans staying over to watch their team trying to compete with Foleys high flying Hi-bees over the road at Murrayfield in the champions league 😀

Why are we playing at Murrayfield, when Easter Rd holds 100,000 next season? :greengrin

[Aldo]

KB is a hoot, lots of straw clutching and comfort blankets. A lot is being made of the fact that FOH would have to vote 90% in favour for someone to buy into them. Nobody has mentioned how that 90% vote could actually hinder them in future if other,esp EPL',clubs look to buy into SPFL clubs in a similar manner, think this may already be ongoing with D Utd/Burnley, and could actually end up seeing hertz left behind, maybe just getting my hopes up to much!

It is indeed. Whilst we don’t know the full extent they all think we are [emoji90] ing ourselves at the thought of this.

For those looking in- at least you’ve got your 90% safeguard to prevent potential investment like this

[babahibs]

Imagine the seethe when their 'hotel' is fully booked with Real Madrid fans staying over to watch their team trying to compete with Foleys high flying Hi-bees over the road at Murrayfield in the champions league 😀

Murrayfield?
Nah.
Easter Road with the corners filled in and an extra tier added all the way round, chockers.

[truehibernian]

It is indeed. Whilst we don’t know the full extent they all think we are [emoji90] ing ourselves at the thought of this.

For those looking in- at least you’ve got your 90% safeguard to prevent potential investment like this

Come on Aldo, don’t shatter my dreams - I’m perfecting a mullet and eating enough haribo and additives this week so I can look like that that wee excitable 30 year old Jambo roaster peeing his cords when asking for photos of Vlad when Bill walks out at Easter Road with a scarf round his neck next week 👍

[SaulGoodman]

Are we loaded yet?

[ancient hibee]

Few on here are well loaded.

[Aldo]

Come on Aldo, don’t shatter my dreams - I’m perfecting a mullet and eating enough haribo and additives this week so I can look like that that wee excitable 30 year old Jambo roaster peeing his cords when asking for photos of Vlad when Bill walks out at Easter Road with a scarf round his neck next week [emoji106]

[emoji1783] yeehaaa

[Real Emerald]

I wonder how we will compare against the biggest fanny owned club in the country. They might go tits up after this. 👺

[Greenio]

You might be not in the know, but I think you’re onto something here.

How long off do we think that is?

[mcohibs]

How long off do we think that is?

I think it’s highly likely in the next 10-15 years we will see the implementation of European leagues in some capacity.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HoboHarry]

I think it’s highly likely in the next 10-15 years we will see the implementation of European leagues in some capacity.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jeezo, I hope not. I'll probably be pan breed fae old age by then :greengrin

[Greencore]

Jambos are bitter because their kids will end up supporting us🤣

[Bridge hibs]

Jambos are bitter because their kids will end up supporting us🤣

Naw they can keep them 😳

[CapitalGreen]

I think it’s highly likely in the next 10-15 years we will see the implementation of European leagues in some capacity.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It’s already happening, the new Champions League format is the implementation of a super league by stealth.

[Hibbyradge]

Few on here are well loaded.

:tee hee:

[Vault Boy]

When the Hibs hit the sky and our accounts run so high that’s Bill Foleyyyyy

When the Jambos feel grim after Hibs’ 6-0 win that's Bill Foleyyyyy

[bingo70]

https://x.com/kristemple/status/1735045379282841796?s=46&t=VghJuoU_bl8ISs-zf5CmHg

Interview with Bill Foley out tomorrow morning at 11am. It’s about his time at Bournemouth but could still be an interesting listen.

[Not In The Know]

Prices for Aberdeen are excessive, no question about that. Shouldn't be a Cat A game.


For Hearts & the Old Firm, it's a bit pricey, but I'm sure those prices will be frozen for a few years, while other clubs increase theirs.

Prices for the rest of our games, £26 & £28, are the going rate. Ross County £28, Livi £27.50, Dundee £26, St Mirren £26 etc.

it’s a legacy from way back when it was casuals fighting everywhere. The extra police needed bumped it upto Cat A.

clearly the police aren’t going to down grade it as it pays for their overtime.

[Ozyhibby]

It’s already happening, the new Champions League format is the implementation of a super league by stealth.

Yip. All that was wrong with the last format was that UEFA were not getting their hands on the loot. It’s still happening though. Slowly but surely in incremental steps now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ChilliEater]

When the Hibs hit the sky and our accounts run so high that’s Bill Foleyyyyy

When the Jambos feel grim after Hibs’ 6-0 win that's Bill Foleyyyyy

:top marks

[Tambo]

When the Hibs hit the sky and our accounts run so high that’s Bill Foleyyyyy

When the Jambos feel grim after Hibs’ 6-0 win that's Bill Foleyyyyy

10 out of 10

[The Spaceman]

As well as being a Billionaire, hadn’t appreciated he is the Chairman of a Fortune 500 company in the US. Foley is seriously big-time and makes someone like James Anderson look utterly, utterly insignificant. Very exciting times!

[Hibernian Verse]

As well as being a Billionaire, hadn’t appreciated he is the Chairman of a Fortune 500 company in the US. Foley is seriously big-time and makes someone like James Anderson look utterly, utterly insignificant. Very exciting times!

Looking forward to this post being screenshotted on Kickback with frothing Jambos fighting over who can come up with the best reason that Foley is a fraud :greengrin

[Ozyhibby]

As well as being a Billionaire, hadn’t appreciated he is the Chairman of a Fortune 500 company in the US. Foley is seriously big-time and makes someone like James Anderson look utterly, utterly insignificant. Very exciting times!

To be fair, Anderson is a pretty big deal in the fund management world. It’s just that Foley and Ryan are absolutely next level successful.


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[JohnM1875]

As well as being a Billionaire, hadn’t appreciated he is the Chairman of a Fortune 500 company in the US. Foley is seriously big-time and makes someone like James Anderson look utterly, utterly insignificant. Very exciting times!

Suppose the only thing that really matters is the level of money Foley is looking to invest. He could have £100B, but if he’s investing less than Anderson is over the road then their level of wealth doesn’t really matter.

[mcohibs]

As well as being a Billionaire, hadn’t appreciated he is the Chairman of a Fortune 500 company in the US. Foley is seriously big-time and makes someone like James Anderson look utterly, utterly insignificant. Very exciting times!

Big team, wee bucks.
Wee team, big bucks.

[Greencore]

Can't wait to go on the pitch with my fellow fans singing Bill Foley and asking him if I can shake his hand.

[04Sauzee]

That's me booked in for a Bil Folay tattoo

[Hibby Bairn]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/14/bournemouth-owner-bill-foley-europe-five-years-iraola-new-stadium

[Hibbyradge]

That's me booked in for a Bil Folay tattoo

Who's he?

[ozwoody]

Looking from outside, it wouldn't take a huge amount of investment to get into top 3 consistently. 2-3 million to get a few half million players in . That would then generate 4-5 million back when in group stages in Europe, so Foley would double profit while we get benefit of better players coming through the door, which increases crowd and revenue.
It's a risk of course, as our chums over road have witnessed, but it's a risk Foley and group must think it's worth taking

[BILLYHIBS]

That's me booked in for a Bil Folay tattoo

Cool!

Maybe in 20 years it will spell correctly :greengrin

[The Modfather]

When is Foley building the solid gold statue of Super John?

[ToffeeCabbage]

Does anybody know what time the SFA is having the vote today?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

[Since452]

So today is D-day then? Wonder when we'll find out?

[GloryGlory]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/14/bournemouth-owner-bill-foley-europe-five-years-iraola-new-stadium

New stadium for Bournemouth will only have an 18,500 capacity, which suggests the owners don't think there is a bigger market in that area for EPL football? Capacity crowds in the EPL at 18,500 would produce only a 1/4 of the revenue that the big boys like Man C, Man U, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea generate from their match day revenue.

[GloryGlory]

Does anybody know what time the SFA is having the vote today?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

Have to get the good expenses paid lunch done first. :greengrin

[theonlywayisup]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/14/bournemouth-owner-bill-foley-europe-five-years-iraola-new-stadium

Maybe we've got this the wrong way round:

Bournemouth - "Plan is to start building new 18,500-capacity stadium in 2025" - wee team
Hibernian - "20,421-capacity stadium already in place" - bigger team

[Hibernian Verse]

Maybe we've got this the wrong way round:

Bournemouth - "Plan is to start building new 18,500-capacity stadium in 2025" - wee team
Hibernian - "20,421-capacity stadium already in place" - bigger team

It'll certainly cost less to get us into the Champions League than Bournemouth.

[Daniel 1875]

The updated Confirmation Statements for each year from 2016 have now been uploaded to Companies House.

[Hibbyradge]

It'll certainly cost less to get us into the Champions League than Bournemouth.

It would cost an absolute fortune to do that.

Think of all the Rantic supporting refs and officials that would need "persuaded" to be fair! ££££

[Onceinawhile]

are we minted yet?

Do we thin Mbappe gets in ahead of Jair in February?

[Greencore]

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/billionaires-hibs-bid-goes-before-sfa-board-what-fans-need-to-know-4444795

[jacomo]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/14/bournemouth-owner-bill-foley-europe-five-years-iraola-new-stadium


I don’t like the multi-club ownership model. Ultimately I think it harms sporting integrity because the needs of ‘the group’ now override the interests of individual clubs.

I know that what’s being proposed for us is a minority stake, but I imagine the new stakeholders will have a very significant say in our future development as a club.

The specific concerns I have with this deal are that they haven’t been involved in football for very long - so who knows if they really know what they are doing? - and Foley is, undeniably, in his late 70s. What happens when he retires? Will they get bored of us?

This seems to be the way football is headed and there is little we can do to stand in its way as fans.

My loyalty remains to Hibernian Football Club. This might be the best offer on the table. But I have doubts and concerns.

[Paul1642]

I don’t like the multi-club ownership model. Ultimately I think it harms sporting integrity because the needs of ‘the group’ now override the interests of individual clubs.

I know that what’s being proposed for us is a minority stake, but I imagine the new stakeholders will have a very significant say in our future development as a club.

The specific concerns I have with this deal are that they haven’t been involved in football for very long - so who knows if they really know what they are doing? - and Foley is, undeniably, in his late 70s. What happens when he retires? Will they bored of us?

This seems to be the way football is headed and there is little we can do to stand in its way as fans.

My loyalty remains to Hibernian Football Club. This might be the best offer on the table. But I have doubts and concerns.

I don’t like it either but it feels like either accept it or get left behind.

[jacomo]

I don’t like it either but it feels like either accept it or get left behind.


:agree:

[Real Emerald]

I don’t like the multi-club ownership model. Ultimately I think it harms sporting integrity because the needs of ‘the group’ now override the interests of individual clubs.

I know that what’s being proposed for us is a minority stake, but I imagine the new stakeholders will have a very significant say in our future development as a club.

The specific concerns I have with this deal are that they haven’t been involved in football for very long - so who knows if they really know what they are doing? - and Foley is, undeniably, in his late 70s. What happens when he retires? Will they bored of us?

This seems to be the way football is headed and there is little we can do to stand in its way as fans.

My loyalty remains to Hibernian Football Club. This might be the best offer on the table. But I have doubts and concerns.

My view is that if we don’t do something like this we’ll just chug along making little progress for years to come. This is the road football is going and I’d rather it was us riding the roller coaster than watching another club in Scotland getting the excitement. We have to take a chance or we’ll always be a struggling 4th 5th 6th team with the occasional 3rd every decade or so. Fingers well and truly crossed. 🤞

[CropleyWasGod]

The updated Confirmation Statements for each year from 2016 have now been uploaded to Companies House.

I've only scanned the 2022 statement very briefly. It does look as though most of the "nominees" aren't there, although there are still some.

The larger holdings appear to be in the names of people. Not sure if these correspond to the nominees. Someone else can do the legwork on that :greengrin

[Golden Bear]

I don’t like the multi-club ownership model. Ultimately I think it harms sporting integrity because the needs of ‘the group’ now override the interests of individual clubs.

I know that what’s being proposed for us is a minority stake, but I imagine the new stakeholders will have a very significant say in our future development as a club.

The specific concerns I have with this deal are that they haven’t been involved in football for very long - so who knows if they really know what they are doing? - and Foley is, undeniably, in his late 70s. What happens when he retires? Will they bored of us?

This seems to be the way football is headed and there is little we can do to stand in its way as fans.

My loyalty remains to Hibernian Football Club. This might be the best offer on the table. But I have doubts and concerns.

I well remember the disastrous and worrying days of the David Duff/ Jim Gray era but I don't think for a minute that the Gordon family will not act in the best interests of Hibernian FC and I'm pretty sure that any changes to the existing situation will only come about if they are entirely happy with any proposal(s)

Rest easy - better days and exciting times are ahead of us.

:thumbsup:

[Daniel 1875]

I've only scanned the 2022 statement very briefly. It does look as though most of the "nominees" aren't there, although there are still some.

The larger holdings appear to be in the names of people. Not sure if these correspond to the nominees. Someone else can do the legwork on that :greengrin

There appears to be one individual now named as the owner of a large number of shares previously split amongst a number of the nominees, which is an interesting development to say the least.

[bingo70]

I don’t like the multi-club ownership model. Ultimately I think it harms sporting integrity because the needs of ‘the group’ now override the interests of individual clubs.

I know that what’s being proposed for us is a minority stake, but I imagine the new stakeholders will have a very significant say in our future development as a club.

The specific concerns I have with this deal are that they haven’t been involved in football for very long - so who knows if they really know what they are doing? - and Foley is, undeniably, in his late 70s. What happens when he retires? Will they get bored of us?

This seems to be the way football is headed and there is little we can do to stand in its way as fans.

My loyalty remains to Hibernian Football Club. This might be the best offer on the table. But I have doubts and concerns.

Remember it’s not just Bill Foley investing into us, he’s just the figurehead, it’s the Black Knights and he is just one part of them. If/when Foley isn’t involved with them, someone else will represent that group of investors.

One of the things that is putting me off is this whole black knights thing. Sounds like one of those staunch Rangers supporters groups.

[CB Hibs 68]

There is a interview with Bill Foley on Talksport in about 10 minutes.Interesting to see if any chat about the Hibs.

[jacomo]

Remember it’s not just Bill Foley investing into us, he’s just the figurehead, it’s the Black Knights and he is just one part of them. If/when Foley isn’t involved with them, someone else will represent that group of investors.

One of the things that is putting me off is this whole black knights thing. Sounds like one of those staunch Rangers supporters groups.


He’s the figurehead and spokesperson. We don’t know how well the others are on board with his vision - is he pushing the investment in Hibs, or did someone else propose it and he signed up?

American investment in British football has a patchy record, in truth. It’s easy to get seduced by billionaires with deep pockets.

Chelsea and Dundee Utd, for example, give pause for thought.

[Leithenhibby]

There appears to be one individual now named as the owner of a large number of shares previously split amongst a number of the nominees, which is an interesting development to say the least.


This doesn't rest easy with me, many other posters over the years have been tried endlessly to guess who it could be and now it's out there, very interesting...:rolleyes:


Glory Glory

[flash]

This doesn't rest easy with me, many other posters over the years have been tried endlessly to guess who it could be and now it's out there, very interesting...:rolleyes:


Glory Glory
Who is it?

[ElginHibbie]

https://talksport.com/football/1677087/tottenham-west-ham-bournemouth-transfers-bill-foley/

“We're not going to be a controlling shareholder, we're going to be an investor but we certainly want to coordinate acquisition and disposition of players with Hibs and I know they can use the help.”

[Bostonhibby]

I don’t like the multi-club ownership model. Ultimately I think it harms sporting integrity because the needs of ‘the group’ now override the interests of individual clubs.

I know that what’s being proposed for us is a minority stake, but I imagine the new stakeholders will have a very significant say in our future development as a club.

The specific concerns I have with this deal are that they haven’t been involved in football for very long - so who knows if they really know what they are doing? - and Foley is, undeniably, in his late 70s. What happens when he retires? Will they get bored of us?

This seems to be the way football is headed and there is little we can do to stand in its way as fans.

My loyalty remains to Hibernian Football Club. This might be the best offer on the table. But I have doubts and concerns.Best describes where I am just now but I think if we don't jump aboard someone else will.

It doesn't feel anything like a Hearts and Vladimir Romanov arrangement thankfully.

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[jodjam]

Looking at this I see it as a positive. As a Season ticket holder for 40 years I'm happy to see what happens and enjoy the ride. The changes the Gordon family promised at the pre covid AGM have largely played out well so let's move onto the next stage.

However, I have my doubts about how we as a support will react to the ride. I can just picture the scene. The start of the investment comes in and is largely spent on areas that need improved / competition. Easter Road is full to the gunnels for the first game and excitement builds. The team starts well and then 4 minutes into the game disaster strikes. One of our new signings CONCEDES A CORNER.

Social media explodes. On twitter, user called Moist Bed, states the signings are not good enough and we're going backwards. On Hibs Net a thread is started by Petrie's Dishy called 'Could we be relegated'

The game finishes in an uneventful draw and an optimist posts asking if the team should run out to Born in the USA but only after the cheerleaders have left the pitch.

Enjoy the ride fellow Hibs fans. I reckon it's going to be fun and let's all just have a wee bit patience :flag:

[DaveF]

Who is it?

I'm in the same boat - who is the mystery villain?

[TrinityHFC]

There appears to be one individual now named as the owner of a large number of shares previously split amongst a number of the nominees, which is an interesting development to say the least.

So the theories were that this was something to be worried about - and one of the reasons why we need something like HSL when really, the shares not held by the Gordon's should really all just be Hibs fans with the same aims.

Unless I'm mistaken it is what I've always assumed - a Hibs fan with a decent amount of cash that held shares in a nominee company for their own reasons and nothing nefarious is going on.

You say interesting to say the least - what is that you feel is very interesting about it?

[Not In The Know]

https://talksport.com/football/1677087/tottenham-west-ham-bournemouth-transfers-bill-foley/

“We're not going to be a controlling shareholder, we're going to be an investor but we certainly want to coordinate acquisition and disposition of players with Hibs and I know they can use the help.”


I take that as we are getting a wedge to spend on players. IF they are then good enough to play in the EPL so be it, I'll be happy with that.

As it stands we are lucky to hold onto any decent player for 18-24 months (and thats not even EPL standard).


Let the good times roll!

[Onceinawhile]

I'm in the same boat - who is the mystery villain?

Well, there's about 94m shares.

Byland sport own 64m
Then there's Leslie Robb with 12.5m

So I'd assume it's that person.

The rest seem to be made up of smaller shareholdings (lots and lots of them)

No idea who he is tbh.

[Trinity Hibee]

Well, there's about 94m shares.

Byland sport own 64m
Then there's Leslie Robb with 12.5m

So I'd assume it's that person.

The rest seem to be made up of smaller shareholdings (lots and lots of them)

No idea who he is tbh.

Interesting. Anyone know this Leslie Robb? Presumably a Hibs fan?

[Col2]

https://talksport.com/football/1677087/tottenham-west-ham-bournemouth-transfers-bill-foley/

“We're not going to be a controlling shareholder, we're going to be an investor but we certainly want to coordinate acquisition and disposition of players with Hibs and I know they can use the help.”

As has been said many times a model where we are overall controlled by an owner who is committed and totally gets the club and what it stands for (Gordon’s) supplemented by another key shareholder who invests in club and supports a materially better quality of player is as good as it gets balancing all the risks and opportunities.

[TrinityHFC]

Interesting. Anyone know this Leslie Robb? Presumably a Hibs fan?

Yes, and been active in supporting the foundation and women's team.

[04Sauzee]

Yes, and been active in supporting the foundation and women's team.

Ex Baillie Gifford?

[Col2]

Ex Baillie Gifford?

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/leslierobb

[Trinity Hibee]

Yes, and been active in supporting the foundation and women's team.

👍🏼

[Not In The Know]

Interesting. Anyone know this Leslie Robb? Presumably a Hibs fan?

A very big cheese in the Edinburgh/Scottish investments world.

[TrinityHFC]

We may each have our own theories as to why that name has been clarified now....

[DaveF]

I'm in the same boat - who is the mystery villain?

Btw, I use the term 'mystery villain' jokingly due to the 2 rather odd comments posted before me (and in case his lawyers are looking in 😄)

[Lee Marvin]

This investment seems imminent now, doesn't it. Exciting times ahead for the cabbage I think.

I still believe he wants majority ownership in the fullness of time. This is just the first step.

[Daniel 1875]

So the theories were that this was something to be worried about - and one of the reasons why we need something like HSL when really, the shares not held by the Gordon's should really all just be Hibs fans with the same aims.

Unless I'm mistaken it is what I've always assumed - a Hibs fan with a decent amount of cash that held shares in a nominee company for their own reasons and nothing nefarious is going on.

You say interesting to say the least - what is that you feel is very interesting about it?

The very interesting part is that the share agreement expressly prohibited any one individual from buying more than £125,000 worth of shares in the club. It’s one of the main reasons Hibernian Supporters Limited was set up and it’s under those terms Hibernian Supporters Limited subscribed to the share agreement.

What we know now is that the terms of the agreement were ignored not once, when Bydand Sports were allowed to purchase the unallocated shares as part of their takeover, but twice as it’s now public knowledge than an individual shareholder was allowed to purchase more than £125,000 of shares in the club.

A cynic would suggest the club and the individual knew that it was against the terms of share agreement at the time which explains why they were neatly divided into £125,000 piles on the share register for all these years.

[Hibernian Verse]

We may each have our own theories as to why that name has been clarified now....

So he's selling his stake in the club to BKFC?

[Hibs90]

The very interesting part is that the share agreement expressly prohibited any one individual from buying more than £125,000 worth of shares in the club. It’s one of the main reasons Hibernian Supporters Limited was set up and it’s under those terms Hibernian Supporters Limited subscribed to the share agreement.

What we know now is that the terms of the agreement were ignored not once, when Bydand Sports were allowed to purchase the unallocated shares as part of their takeover, but twice as it’s now public knowledge than an individual shareholder was allowed to purchase more than £125,000 of shares in the club.

A cynic would suggest the club and the individual knew that it was against the terms of share agreement at the time which explains why they were neatly divided into £125,000 piles on the share register for all these years.

Interesting

[jacomo]

So he's selling his stake in the club to BKFC?


Presumably yes, unless this is all an amazing coincidence.

Makes sense if Gordon family want to retain overall control. They have 65% of the shares - if they sell 20% they’d become minority holders (albeit still the largest single investor).

[gbhibby]

Interesting. Anyone know this Leslie Robb? Presumably a Hibs fan?
Yes a good Hibs fan went to games with him in the past. Very bright guy.

[Not In The Know]

The very interesting part is that the share agreement expressly prohibited any one individual from buying more than £125,000 worth of shares in the club. It’s one of the main reasons Hibernian Supporters Limited was set up and it’s under those terms Hibernian Supporters Limited subscribed to the share agreement.

What we know now is that the terms of the agreement were ignored not once, when Bydand Sports were allowed to purchase the unallocated shares as part of their takeover, but twice as it’s now public knowledge than an individual shareholder was allowed to purchase more than £125,000 of shares in the club.

A cynic would suggest the club and the individual knew that it was against the terms of share agreement at the time which explains why they were neatly divided into £125,000 piles on the share register for all these years.

Im not really bothered TBH. He's clearly not dodgy, and he's supported the Community Foundation and ladies team.

[Trinity Hibee]

Yes a good Hibs fan went to games with him in the past. Very bright guy.

Thanks. Certainly not questioning his commitment. Just not a name I am familiar with.

[badabing67]

I'm I right to say that IG and BK are going to this meeting with the SFA to state the case for the ratification for a Bill Foley minority stake holder, and that the outcome of this meeting will be announced at a later date. What I am asking is will the SFA make a decision today.

[CapitalGreen]

I'm I right to say that IG and BK are going to this meeting with the SFA to state the case for the ratification for a Bill Foley minority stake holder, and that the outcome of this meeting will be announced at a later date. What I am asking is will the SFA make a decision today.

I think the case has already been made and the decision is being given today.

[DanishJohn]

The very interesting part is that the share agreement expressly prohibited any one individual from buying more than £125,000 worth of shares in the club. It’s one of the main reasons Hibernian Supporters Limited was set up and it’s under those terms Hibernian Supporters Limited subscribed to the share agreement.

What we know now is that the terms of the agreement were ignored not once, when Bydand Sports were allowed to purchase the unallocated shares as part of their takeover, but twice as it’s now public knowledge than an individual shareholder was allowed to purchase more than £125,000 of shares in the club.

A cynic would suggest the club and the individual knew that it was against the terms of share agreement at the time which explains why they were neatly divided into £125,000 piles on the share register for all these years.



Absolutely disgusted by this. HSL members were told that only THEY could acquire an unlimited number of shares.

Could someone tell me please - Has this all been one large con ?

[K-Zazu]

What’s Roman Romanov up to these days?

[badabing67]

I think the case has already been made and the decision is being given today.

Good Thanks for info


Next QU?

If the decision goes against us is there an avenue to appeal, or is decision final

[Lee Marvin]

Good Thanks for info


Next QU?

If the decision goes against us is there an avenue to appeal, or is decision final

I think it highly unlikely that foley would be naming us today if the decision was against us.

I'm more interested in when we will get the official announcement from the club?

[Greencore]

I think it highly unlikely that foley would be naming us today if the decision was against us.

I'm more interested in when we will get the official announcement from the club?

Someone will be along quickly to act like they are ITK and say 5 pm. Watch this space.

[GordonHFC]

Someone will be along quickly to act like they are ITK and say 5 pm. Watch this space.

5pm

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

5pm I’ve heard.

[Libby Hibby]

17:00 is what I’ve been told

[Malthibby]

5pm.

[Greencore]

🤣

[007]

Announcement at 11am (Central Standard Time).

[Green Reaper]

Been told maybe 4pm, possibly 6pm, or somewhere inbetween

[Real Emerald]

This is going to get Messi 😂

[HoboHarry]

Announcement at 11am (Central Standard Time).
That's not right, 12 Eastern I heard from someone ITK

[TrinityHFC]

The very interesting part is that the share agreement expressly prohibited any one individual from buying more than £125,000 worth of shares in the club. It’s one of the main reasons Hibernian Supporters Limited was set up and it’s under those terms Hibernian Supporters Limited subscribed to the share agreement.

What we know now is that the terms of the agreement were ignored not once, when Bydand Sports were allowed to purchase the unallocated shares as part of their takeover, but twice as it’s now public knowledge than an individual shareholder was allowed to purchase more than £125,000 of shares in the club.

A cynic would suggest the club and the individual knew that it was against the terms of share agreement at the time which explains why they were neatly divided into £125,000 piles on the share register for all these years.

Think you should be a bit careful about throwing stuff like this around when you also generally post on behalf of HSL.

Share offers particularly for private companies are complex and you’d need to look a lot more deeply into the terms and how and when these were acquired.

The individual is in the Community Foundation Hall of Fame. He’s a Hibs fan and a supportive one at that. Suggesting wrongdoing isn’t right.

[Chipper1875]

Well, there's about 94m shares.

Byland sport own 64m
Then there's Leslie Robb with 12.5m

So I'd assume it's that person.

The rest seem to be made up of smaller shareholdings (lots and lots of them)

No idea who he is tbh.
im not sure if i looked at the correct form on companies house. Looks like its Bydand sports with 84m shares

[Chipper1875]

We may each have our own theories as to why that name has been clarified now....
do you know why would it get changed from a nominee to an individual? it also showing up in the restated 2106 submission. This suggests it should have been changed in 2016.

[CropleyWasGod]

Well, there's about 94m shares.

Byland sport own 64m
Then there's Leslie Robb with 12.5m

So I'd assume it's that person.

The rest seem to be made up of smaller shareholdings (lots and lots of them)

No idea who he is tbh.

There are 125m shares.

Bydand own 84m

HS 19m

LR 12.5m

[Since452]

5pm announcement i'm hearing. Steven Whittaker is going to announce it at his unveiling.

[flash]

5pm announcement i'm hearing. Steven Whittaker is going to announce it at his unveiling.

Unveiled as new manager? These boys ain't wasting much time.

[Callum_62]

Absolutely disgusted by this. HSL members were told that only THEY could acquire an unlimited number of shares.

Could someone tell me please - Has this all been one large con ?Ponzi apparently

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[RMQ1967]

Absolutely disgusted by this. HSL members were told that only THEY could acquire an unlimited number of shares.

Could someone tell me please - Has this all been one large con ?

Why are you so upset?

Did it prevent you or someone you know buying more than £125,000 of shares?

[Onceinawhile]

im not sure if i looked at the correct form on companies house. Looks like its Bydand sports with 84m shares


There are 125m shares.

Bydand own 84m

HS 19m

LR 12.5m

Happy to be corrected. I looked at it pretty quickly and TBH, it was pretty blurry!

[MagicSwirlingShip]

Why are you so upset?

Did it prevent you or someone you know buying more than £125,000 of shares?

I’d hazard a guess at no

[WhileTheChief..]

There are 125m shares.

Bydand own 84m

HS 19m

LR 12.5m

We're missing 9,500,000 shares???

Careless.

[Ringothedog]

I’d hazard a guess at no

😂

[NC1875]

Are we rich yet?

[Ringothedog]

We're missing 9,500,000 shares???

Careless.

Don’t even joke about something like that, it will be taken at face value. I am more concerned that my 5100 shares have not even been mentioned

[itslegaltender]

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/leslierobb

that boy is going to get a lot of 'look who is looking at your profile' on his Linkedin notifications today! lol

[green day]

Absolutely disgusted by this. HSL members were told that only THEY could acquire an unlimited number of shares.

Could someone tell me please - Has this all been one large con ?

Yes, all the shares have been converted to Russian Hats and we wont be allowed any further investment unless we kick them down the Albion Road in sync.

[CentreForward]

Just spotted a plane with banner flying round ER and all it says on it is 5pm.

[Northernhibee]

Missed most of this - are we billionaires yet?

[RoxburghHibs]

Just spotted a plane with banner flying round ER and all it says on it is 5pm.


Wow really? :wink:

[HoboHarry]

Missed most of this - are we billionaires yet?
I think you are if you currently own a Russian hat if I'm following this correctly.

[TrinityHFC]

Why are you so upset?

Did it prevent you or someone you know buying more than £125,000 of shares?

Remember too that this would have basically been a £500k donation to the club. That money was not going to existing shareholders. That offer doesn’t exist now. Any shares that HSL think they might be able to buy in future will be money going to shareholders and not the club.

Of course he may be able to sell those shares in this or future processes but very unlikely to have been a motivating factor at the time. In fact, he has given generous funding to the Community Foundation.

[yerauldda]

After 4 threads of laughing at us for this prospective investment over on kickback, I have a feeling they may begin to change their tune..

'McKinley believes this kind of investment may be the way forward for us too. He’s going to investigate to ensure we are not left behind - source AGM'

[WhileTheChief..]

Don’t even joke about something like that, it will be taken at face value. I am more concerned that my 5100 shares have not even been mentioned

That your shares haven't been mentioned is a good sign. It's the equivalent of not getting your share certificate when you purchased them!

[TrinityHFC]

After 4 threads of laughing at us for this prospective investment over on kickback, I have a feeling they may begin to change their tune..

'McKinley believes this kind of investment may be the way forward for us too. He’s going to investigate to ensure we are not left behind - source AGM'

Very difficult with their ownership structure.

[Lendo]

After 4 threads of laughing at us for this prospective investment over on kickback, I have a feeling they may begin to change their tune..

'McKinley believes this kind of investment may be the way forward for us too. He’s going to investigate to ensure we are not left behind - source AGM'

There’s no danger they would get the 90% support from the FOH members for it to materialise. Their ownership model potentially makes investment like this very difficult.