Ben Kensell

[ChuckNor]

Go. You absolute imposter. Since you joined this club you have robbed it of its soul and managed to make us so much worse. The fans are utterly exhausted with the football. Your bull**** with hospitality and sponsorship, no one cares. All we want is a decent product on the park. You’ve oversaw three of the worst managerial appointments ever at this club, hiring people who had zero understanding of coaching a big club in Scotland. You turned your nose up at experience. You sacked the one manager who’d achieved anything with us after his first bad run and then decided to experiment with this utterly mad youth team that resulted in ZERO players coming through. None.

Rod Petrie attracted protests because of some of the rubbish that happened under his watch. Honestly, his time pails into comparison wit your ineptitude. How you’ve managed to land a pay rise is beyond me.

On the very basis you supported the Foley deal I now think it’ll be a disaster.

How there is no talk of fans demanding Kensell leave is beyond me. He has been a disgrace.

[Northernhibee]

The loss in the last accounts rings alarm bells for me. How can we spend so much money to become worse?

[Since452]

Since Kensell has come in, my enthusiasm for Hibs has diminished to the extent I'm not really arsed about going anymore. Apathy is setting in. Not saying everything was a bed of roses under them but under Dempster, George Craig etc i felt properly engaged and invested in the club. Sad state of affairs at the moment.

[B.H.F.C]

The loss in the last accounts rings alarm bells for me. How can we spend so much money to become worse?

Valid point. Apparently the next accounts are going to be better, which kind of sums Hibs up, it’ll always be all right next time.

Maloney, Johnson and now Montgomery on his watch. McDermott there as well but no sure what he’s actually doing either.

[sleeping giant]

Valid point. Apparently the next accounts are going to be better, which kind of sums Hibs up, it’ll always be all right next time.


That's actually bang on the money.

[TrinityHFC]

The loss in the last accounts rings alarm bells for me. How can we spend so much money to become worse?

A lot of the spend was on facilities that will have a longer period of pay off.

It is a tricky one with him. No doubt we are in a great place off the park but we are a football team. Yes, all the things we do off the park are to support future spend on the team but as CEO he ultimately carries the can for the football department too.

I’m not sure we have a clear vision of what we want on the park. NM was a poor choice if we want to see fast, attacking football. That’s my main concern. He can provide the finances for players but it is going to fall over if you do t pick the right people to coach.

[Trinity Hibee]

Since Kensell has come in, my enthusiasm for Hibs has diminished to the extent I'm not really arsed about going anymore. Apathy is setting in. Not saying everything was a bed of roses under them but under Dempster, George Craig etc i felt properly engaged and invested in the club. Sad state of affairs at the moment.

Sums it up perfectly for me

[Iain G]

Since Kensell has come in, my enthusiasm for Hibs has diminished to the extent I'm not really arsed about going anymore. Apathy is setting in. Not saying everything was a bed of roses under them but under Dempster, George Craig etc i felt properly engaged and invested in the club. Sad state of affairs at the moment.

You loved LJ though!

[Stuart93]

Since Kensell has come in, my enthusiasm for Hibs has diminished to the extent I'm not really arsed about going anymore. Apathy is setting in. Not saying everything was a bed of roses under them but under Dempster, George Craig etc i felt properly engaged and invested in the club. Sad state of affairs at the moment.

We’ve became corporate and feels like we’ve had the soul ripped out of us, we’re Americanised.

I’ve not felt the same about hibs for a wee while now. Wee mans now over a year and I’ve never once thought about taking him

If NM gets the sack I want BK to follow him out the door

[GreenCastle]

Here we are again..

Another failed appointment doesn’t look good on the CV / or good for his next job.

So he will give him as long as possible when in reality he should be gone already.

He probably needs a manager to finally succeed to actually get himself another high paid job - all these duds and other clubs won’t trust him with the hiring. So he’s probably enjoying the very good pay he’s getting until another club offers more.

We know off the pitch stuff has improved but the fans are sick with such inconsistency on the pitch.

[JohnM1875]

I actually think he's done a good job bringing money into the club post Dempster. But that's done now. Money is in, link up with billionaires secured get the guy to ****.

[Trinity Hibee]

Time Kensell went. Abysmal appointments

[Greensunshine]

Agree 100% with the original poster. I’ve lost all faith in the people running our club.

Utter failures the lot of them and yet it’s always the manager that pays the price!

[Hibees1973]

My feeling has always been is that Ben Kensell and Ian Gordon have taken us down a fantasy project which is either going to fizzle out or something we will ultimately regret.

I don't trust the key decisions they have made.

[Northernhibee]

My feeling has always been is that Ben Kensell and Ian Gordon have taken us down a fantasy project which is either going to fizzle out or something we will ultimately regret.

I don't trust the key decisions they have made.

I don’t trust them. We feel like a plaything.

[Since452]

We'll never know but I wonder if Kensell would still be in his role if Ron Gordon was here. I know he recruited him but he didn't suffer fools.

[Hibees1973]

I don’t trust them. We feel like a plaything.

The way Hibs are now structured, there is no doubt they have both made things much more difficult for someone else to come in and takeover Hibs.

[Hibee Mac]

It's not just Kensell, he's only part of the puzzle, the owners haven't got a clue. Ian Gordon is still kicking around without a scooby what he's doing, bloody hell he's actually our owner now. Don't care how much effort people say he puts in, he doesn't have any experience or success in football.

Our only hope now is that this Black Night group brings with them some real knowhow and experience to run things better, otherwise who knows what we do next. The owners won't replace themselves so I've not a clue....



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[Hibees1973]

We'll never know but I wonder if Kensell would still be in his role if Ron Gordon was here. I know he recruited him but he didn't suffer fools.

I have it on good authority that Ian Gordon thinks the sun shines out of Kensell's ****hole.

[Stairway 2 7]

He's taken us from near £10 mil per year to near £15 this and was supposedly a big part of getting blacknight on board. Cheers stay on and do the business side. Don't ever touch the football side again you know f all. Bournemouth must have better infrastructure to get us developed on the pitch because we haven't got a clue

[Northernhibee]

He's taken us from near £10 mil per year to near £15 this and was supposedly a big part of getting blacknight on board. Cheers stay on and do the business side. Don't ever touch the football side again you know f all. Bournemouth must have better infrastructure to get us developed on the pitch because we haven't got a clue

Income means nothing in business if it’s not spent well.

[A Hi-Bee]

Cannot get rid of Kensell, he hides amongst the crowd with a balaclava and black gear on, blending in with dark glasses on, never spot him.

[ChuckNor]

He's taken us from near £10 mil per year to near £15 this and was supposedly a big part of getting blacknight on board. Cheers stay on and do the business side. Don't ever touch the football side again you know f all. Bournemouth must have better infrastructure to get us developed on the pitch because we haven't got a clue

It won’t be £15m if performances keep up. Fans will vote with their feet. And as we know from the dark days under Petrie, it can take a long time to win them back. Sure we never even used to sell derbies out.

[Thegreenside]

I actually think he's done a good job bringing money into the club post Dempster. But that's done now. Money is in, link up with billionaires secured get the guy to ****.

Correct, Dempster was right place right time. Couldn’t get a front of shirt sponsor hence the thank you nhs.

[eastmainsmsh]

I have it on good authority that Ian Gordon thinks the sun shines out of Kensell's ****hole.

As long as he is not got his tongue near

[joe breezy]

Nobody would give a **** about being Americanised if we were top of the league


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[Bertie Wooster]

Cannot get rid of Kensell, he hides amongst the crowd with a balaclava and black gear on, blending in with dark glasses on, never spot him.

Have only ever seen him in the Albion bar and they seem to love him in there with a few I know seeming to get easy access to away tickets.
Appears to have done very well in bringing up the commercial side but is it a case of as long as he provides the shiny bars and new commercial deals many people are very forgiving as long as they get their nice day out at Easter Road.

Would think he would be kept on by BK over the short term in terms of commercial deals but removed from any football decicions

[Northernhibee]

Correct, Dempster was right place right time. Couldn’t get a front of shirt sponsor hence the thank you nhs.

Didn’t someone pay quite a bit of money to make that happen?

[Stairway 2 7]

It won’t be £15m if performances keep up. Fans will vote with their feet. And as we know from the dark days under Petrie, it can take a long time to win them back. Sure we never even used to sell derbies out.

It will be near 15 mil this year. It's mostly non pitch related income that's grew the rise, sponsorship and corporate facilities plus outside investment on top. Financially we are sailing but that means nothing as we are a football club. I agree fan's can collapse if football side fails hence saying he shouldn't be near footballing decisions

[Northernhibee]

It will be near 15 mil this year. It's mostly non pitch related income that's grew the rise, sponsorship and corporate facilities plus outside investment on top. Financially we are sailing but that means nothing as we are a football club. I agree fan's can collapse if football side fails hence saying he shouldn't be near footballing decisions

Financially we made a big loss in the last accounts.

[A Hi-Bee]

Financially we made a big loss in the last accounts.

Yesterdays news, the next accounts show a huge improvement, so he is bringing in impressive cash, as for the football side well that's another obvious story.

[jeffers]

How much involvement did he have in the appointment of Monty ?

[Dmas]

How much involvement did he have in the appointment of Monty ?

Sorted out the contracts, BMcD led on this as he should as DoF

[Stairway 2 7]

Financially we made a big loss in the last accounts.

We won't next plus we'll have no debt with all the costs for massive upgrades paid off, plus famous 5 upgrade and indoor training centre will be paid for from investment. We are doing amazing financially, keeping up with top 3. Unfortunately that matters nowt as we're pish

[Stairway 2 7]

Sorted out the contracts, BMcD led on this as he should as DoF

If that's correct then he shouldn't be getting that much criticism then maybe?

[Northernhibee]

If that's correct then he shouldn't be getting that much criticism then maybe?

Who appointed McDermott?

Looking at the variables that have changed - three managers, DoF or not, and no difference. No improvement in the sort of area of the table we are trudging along in.


It’s time to look at what the constants have been during this prolonged period of underachieving. Otherwise we will just keep changing managers or roles within the football department over and over and over and expecting different results.

[jeffers]

Sorted out the contracts, BMcD led on this as he should as DoF

Puzzling then why Kensell is getting it in the neck over Monty…..

[Callum_62]

Puzzling then why Kensell is getting it in the neck over Monty…..Something to do with a tan I reckon

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[jakeshibs]

My feeling has always been is that Ben Kensell and Ian Gordon have taken us down a fantasy project which is either going to fizzle out or something we will ultimately regret.

I don't trust the key decisions they have made.


Cant believe we have fans blaming the Gordons, do a whip round and buy them out, as they are putting their own money into the club to enhance every aspect and have ensured funds were available to buy players and retain our own stars. They have given the club more on and off the pitch than I can ever recall.

Yes we are all frustrated at the lack of progress but the constant changing of management has brought us no rewards and only impacts the available cash for the next manager as we have spent lots on compensation to managers and their staff. No manger has been chosen hoping that they would fail, thats just not true, and there is no certainty that the next manager will bring success, Sir Alex Ferguson is proof as he as about to get the sack at Man Utd due to poor seasons but eventually turned it round and the rest is history yet he would not survive a season at Hibs.

[jeffers]

Something to do with a tan I reckon

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Could be. I think he’s not without his faults but under him we are bringing in more money than ever before, spending more on wages than ever before and more on transfer fees than ever before. I don’t see how anyone can say we aren’t backing managers.

I absolutely get the criticism over the manager appointments, I’ll never understand how anyone listened to Johnson and fell for his chat, but at our level every appointment is a gamble to some extent. Look at the sheep, spending even more than us and in an even worse state.

[Stairway 2 7]

Who appointed McDermott?

Looking at the variables that have changed - three managers, DoF or not, and no difference. No improvement in the sort of area of the table we are trudging along in.


It’s time to look at what the constants have been during this prolonged period of underachieving. Otherwise we will just keep changing managers or roles within the football department over and over and over and expecting different results.

He's a money man he's not a little bit changed our finances he's dramatically changed it. Debt free 6 mil to spend and a link up that should change dramatically the crap we've been watching. People were blaming him for picking managers 5 minutes ago now its picking the man who picks the manager. Monty on paper was a good appointment. I'll let them pass onto black Knights the next one but I'm an optimistic chap and on the tempranillo, GGTTH

[The Baldmans Comb]

Ben is a very clever man who has set up a very smart management structure.

He will be laughing all the way to his pension top up plan and his redundancy pay out.

Easy money if you know how. ✌️

[Itsnoteasy]

Puzzling then why Kensell is getting it in the neck over Monty…..

This

[we are hibs]

Cant believe we have fans blaming the Gordons, do a whip round and buy them out, as they are putting their own money into the club to enhance every aspect and have ensured funds were available to buy players and retain our own stars. They have given the club more on and off the pitch than I can ever recall.

Yes we are all frustrated at the lack of progress but the constant changing of management has brought us no rewards and only impacts the available cash for the next manager as we have spent lots on compensation to managers and their staff. No manger has been chosen hoping that they would fail, thats just not true, and there is no certainty that the next manager will bring success, Sir Alex Ferguson is proof as he as about to get the sack at Man Utd due to poor seasons but eventually turned it round and the rest is history yet he would not survive a season at Hibs.


Yeah can't believe fans are blaming those running the club for continually appointing terrible managers and having a terrible recruitment structure in place for 5 years, I mean it's clearly not the fault of those who own and run the club.

[Crammond Hibee]

Yesterdays news, the next accounts show a huge improvement, so he is bringing in impressive cash, as for the football side well that's another obvious story.

How do you know that
I doubt it

[ScottB]

We need something like Ineos at United; turn over all football operations to the new minority owners. Let them clean house, start again.

[Crammond Hibee]

Yesterdays news, the next accounts show a huge improvement, so he is bringing in impressive cash, as for the football side well that's another obvious story.

How do you know that
I doubt it

[matty_f]

Clearly he's done a very impressive job off the park, the owners think very highly of him and I think with recent stuff about opposition fans and referees, he's listened to the fans and stood up for the club.

That's only half the job, though - the part we all want to see is on the pitch on a Saturday afternoon and it's brutal, and has been for a while.

What does McDermott do? The club needed a DoF to sort out the football side of the club but I don't know how Monty fits in with the club ethos, what the long term football strategy is our what profile of player we target is etc. Stuff that the DoF should be accountable for but we just look like we're completely rudderless.

The problems run deeper than just the manager (he is a problem, too).

[matty_f]

How do you know that
I doubt it

It was explained at the AGM.

[JohnM1875]

Clearly he's done a very impressive job off the park, the owners think very highly of him and I think with recent stuff about opposition fans and referees, he's listened to the fans and stood up for the club.

That's only half the job, though - the part we all want to see is on the pitch on a Saturday afternoon and it's brutal, and has been for a while.

What does McDermott do? The club needed a DoF to sort out the football side of the club but I don't know how Monty fits in with the club ethos, what the long term football strategy is our what profile of player we target is etc. Stuff that the DoF should be accountable for but we just look like we're completely rudderless.

The problems run deeper than just the manager (he is a problem, too).

That's pish. I emailed him after the RG tribute against the huns and he didn't give a **** then. All about the money, basically, was the reply.

Easy to make a stand and seem you're doing right by the club after billionaires are onboard.

[ChuckNor]

I find it stunning that some defend Kensell on here, especially when they cite “commercial improvements”. Laughable. We just posted a massive loss. How’s that a commercial improvement? He’s failed on every measure. If I fail at my job I get sacked. When Ben fails he gets a pay rise. The guy has taken us all for fools, and yet those who frequent the hospitality suites can’t see the issue. Let’s see if you agree when we start posting crowds of 8,000 again…

[matty_f]

That's pish. I emailed him after the RG tribute against the huns and he didn't give a **** then. All about the money, basically, was the reply.

Easy to make a stand and seem you're doing right by the club after billionaires are onboard.

Think his stance changed after he heard the strength of feeling at the AGM.

[ChuckNor]

Think his stance changed after he heard the strength of feeling at the AGM.

Will his stance change on constantly hiring people with little to no experience of managing in Scotland once the crowds hit 8,000 next season?

[Glory Lurker]

Correct, Dempster was right place right time. Couldn’t get a front of shirt sponsor hence the thank you nhs.

Community Foundation.

[JohnM1875]

Think his stance changed after he heard the strength of feeling at the AGM.

Nothing to do with already securing the Black Knights backing by that point then? Come on, Matty.

If you're not going to make a stand as a club when your owners family are at a match where they disrespect Ron for financial reasons, then you're never going to suddenly take a stand cause a few angry Hibs fans are at an AGM.

[Viva_Palmeiras]

I’m seriously swithering from my position along with where Mikey Stewart is (From todays Sportsound)
Today was the day by hook or by crook to win that game and show his mettle.

We must have failed to get our defensive targets in a typically tough January market. Did we assume that the Foley deal would conclude ahead of the window by get messed up by the delay?

From hearing McDermott speak I think he’s an asset. Come the summer window he’ll get his chance to show what he can conjour up - hopefully clear what’s needed.

[ChuckNor]

I’m seriously swithering from my position along with where Mikey Stewart is (From todays Sportsound)
Today was the day by hook or by crook to win that game and show his mettle.

We must have failed to get our defensive targets in a typically tough January market. Did we assume that the Foley deal would conclude ahead of the window by get messed up by the delay?

From hearing McDermott speak I think he’s an asset. Come the summer window he’ll get his chance to show what he can conjour up - hopefully clear what’s needed.

Montgomery’s target was Triantis. He got him. Since then he’s made mistakes for at least four or five goals.

[matty_f]

Will his stance change on constantly hiring people with little to no experience of managing in Scotland once the crowds hit 8,000 next season?

I hope so.

[matty_f]

Nothing to do with already securing the Black Knights backing by that point then? Come on, Matty.

If you're not going to make a stand as a club when your owners family are at a match where they disrespect Ron for financial reasons, then you're never going to suddenly take a stand cause a few angry Hibs fans are at an AGM.

I don't think the money we're getting is significant enough to make us just forget about gate income from our biggest games, to be honest.

What I would say is that at the AGM he did say that the Gordons wanted to do something about it before so maybe there was pressure from there as well.

[JohnM1875]

I don't think the money we're getting is significant enough to make us just forget about gate income from our biggest games, to be honest.

What I would say is that at the AGM he did say that the Gordons wanted to do something about it before so maybe there was pressure from there as well.

If the money we're getting isn't enough to negate a portion of the hun allocation then I'd genuinely question what the point in the money is.

If the Gordons, think it was Ian in particular they mentioned, were pushing for reduced allocation and Kensell didn't make it happen then that reflects really really poorly on him. All about the money. Much like his reply to my email confirmed.

[Tambo]

What a mess again with things on the pitch, looking like another manager change could be on the cards unless a miracle.

Looking at another rebuild with the playing squad, yes things might have improved financially off the field but on the field yet again not acceptable with the funds we now have at our disposal.

Have seen a few saying for Foley to get rid of BK and rest again, something I would be in favour of.

[Stairway 2 7]

I would only reduce rangers if we equally reduce celtic two cheeks of a bigoted arse. Will cost a huge amount for our principals though and I doubt we'll match it with fans, even if the vocal I'll not be back crowd come back

[Donegal Hibby]

What a mess again with things on the pitch, looking like another manager change could be on the cards unless a miracle.

Looking at another rebuild with the playing squad, yes things might have improved financially off the field but on the field yet again not acceptable with the funds we now have at our disposal.

Have seen a few saying for Foley to get rid of BK and rest again, something I would be in favour of.

Ben Kensell is part of the problem so I'd be in favour of it too . Been totally unprofessional in the past .

[Forza Fred]

We’ve became corporate and feels like we’ve had the soul ripped out of us, we’re Americanised.




What nonsense!

[WhileTheChief..]

Could be. I think he’s not without his faults but under him we are bringing in more money than ever before, spending more on wages than ever before and more on transfer fees than ever before. I don’t see how anyone can say we aren’t backing managers.

I absolutely get the criticism over the manager appointments, I’ll never understand how anyone listened to Johnson and fell for his chat, but at our level every appointment is a gamble to some extent. Look at the sheep, spending even more than us and in an even worse state.

At the same time, we're are paying more for tickets, paying more for hospitality, paying more in the shop......than ever before!

The extra money going into the club comes from us.

[Brightside]

Go. You absolute imposter. Since you joined this club you have robbed it of its soul and managed to make us so much worse. The fans are utterly exhausted with the football. Your bull**** with hospitality and sponsorship, no one cares. All we want is a decent product on the park. You’ve oversaw three of the worst managerial appointments ever at this club, hiring people who had zero understanding of coaching a big club in Scotland. You turned your nose up at experience. You sacked the one manager who’d achieved anything with us after his first bad run and then decided to experiment with this utterly mad youth team that resulted in ZERO players coming through. None.

Rod Petrie attracted protests because of some of the rubbish that happened under his watch. Honestly, his time pails into comparison wit your ineptitude. How you’ve managed to land a pay rise is beyond me.

On the very basis you supported the Foley deal I now think it’ll be a disaster.

How there is no talk of fans demanding Kensell leave is beyond me. He has been a disgrace.

A nonsense post.

[Jones28]

Correct, Dempster was right place right time. Couldn’t get a front of shirt sponsor hence the thank you nhs.

That was the community foundation year no?

[SickBoy32]

A nonsense post.

It’s really not, a very accurate post.

The mood around the club has been getting worse for years now, he is leading our club nowhere.

Get him and his monstrous salary OUT

[Northernhibee]

It’s really not, a very accurate post.

The mood around the club has been getting worse for years now, he is leading our club nowhere.

Get him and his monstrous salary OUT
Indeed. The fact that in support of him all people can conjure is “nonsense” or similarly brief responses tells a story.

[Islington Hibs]

I rarely criticise as a) I generally think people need time b) it’s destructive and given the resources the club has success is far from easy.
However, I am underwhelmed by Ben Kensell and sadly I don’t think Ian Gordon is a leader.

Kensell is an administrator with little sign of leadership. Sure some issues have been handled well off the field but on the field very weak. Similarly while I think the Gordon’s have been good for Hibs sadly I am not convened by Ian.

If you watch the interview when Montgomery was hired both Ben and Ian fail to show leadership. They pass the buck on his appointment rather than leading from the front with confidence. It’s but one example but telling in my view.

The harsh reality is our new minority shareholder will be unlikely to stand for mediocrity and he will have his own view on Kensell. If he stays perhaps there is more to him that seems apparent to me from afar. But I suggest change is on the way.

[jeffers]

At the same time, we're are paying more for tickets, paying more for hospitality, paying more in the shop......than ever before!

The extra money going into the club comes from us.

That’s not specific to Hibs though, the price of everything in life has gone up. At the same time we’ve kept season ticket prices the same as last year.

[Brightside]

It’s really not, a very accurate post.

The mood around the club has been getting worse for years now, he is leading our club nowhere.

Get him and his monstrous salary OUT

You’ve just made that up. The mood around the club is better than it’s ever been.

[Brightside]

What nonsense!

Spot on. Stop being babies. Soul ripped out our club 😂😂. Grow up. We got beat. Our defenders were garbage. (Same defenders that people on here thought were top class btw). It’s got zero to do with BK

[SickBoy32]

You’ve just made that up. The mood around the club is better than it’s ever been.

Seriously ?

ER has a genuine fire drill 75/80 mins EVERY week, regardless of the score. Most of the crowd are long gone by FT. There is no affinity / bond between fan and players. No atmosphere at all.

Stunned that you think the mood currently is better than under Stubbs / Lennon.

[jeffers]

I rarely criticise as a) I generally think people need time b) it’s destructive and given the resources the club has success is far from easy.
However, I am underwhelmed by Ben Kensell and sadly I don’t think Ian Gordon is a leader.

Kensell is an administrator with little sign of leadership. Sure some issues have been handled well off the field but on the field very weak. Similarly while I think the Gordon’s have been good for Hibs sadly I am not convened by Ian.

If you watch the interview when Montgomery was hired both Ben and Ian fail to show leadership. They pass the buck on his appointment rather than leading from the front with confidence. It’s but one example but telling in my view.

The harsh reality is our new minority shareholder will be unlikely to stand for mediocrity and he will have his own view on Kensell. If he stays perhaps there is more to him that seems apparent to me from afar. But I suggest change is on the way.

Or maybe IG and BK recognised that mistakes were made in appointing previous managers and let our DoF lead the way when hiring Monty ?

It may come across as if I’m a huge fan of Kensell, but I’m not. I’m as frustrated as anyone at the poor football decisions we’ve been making. I’ll repeat myself though, at our level there is an element of risk in appointing any manager. I’m my 50+ years supporting Hibs I’ve lost track of all the managers we’ve had but it’s fair to say very few of them have been good appointments. I will never understand the Johnson appointment but I totally get why they went for Maloney and Monty.

If, as is looking very likely, we punt Monty and get it right with his replacement a lot of the noise around Kensell will fade away imo. It’s clearly not perfect but what we are doing under him (and IG) is spending money on the football side that we never have before.

[DH1875]

People talk like this £6 million investment is gonna change everything. If you add our losses from last year together with failing to make top 6 and Europe this year then you all but wipe that £6 million out.

[Brightside]

Seriously ?

ER has a genuine fire drill 75/80 mins EVERY week, regardless of the score. Most of the crowd are long gone by FT. There is no affinity / bond between fan and players. No atmosphere at all.

Stunned that you think the mood currently is better than under Stubbs / Lennon.

Used to have about 12000 during stubs. Maybe you weren’t there.

[SickBoy32]

Used to have about 12000 during stubs. Maybe you weren’t there.

We comparing attendance figures, or general atmosphere around the club?

I think you’re well aware that the matchday experience has been on the wane for years.

[Brightside]

We comparing attendance figures, or general atmosphere around the club?

I think you’re well aware that the matchday experience has been on the wane for years.

It was **** in the times you are talking about. As I say. You’ve maybe forgotten.

[Nakedmanoncrack]

You’ve just made that up. The mood around the club is better than it’s ever been.

🤣🤣

[One Day Soon]

There’s a big difference between a bad atmosphere on the one hand and creeping indifference on the other. There is zero excitement around Hibs this season and that’s simply a reflection of how the club is: the CE, the manager, the captain, the team, all exude a low level lack of intensity.

Incoherent is the word I would use to describe our club’s collective psyche at the moment.

[Hiber-nation]

There’s a big difference between a bad atmosphere on the one hand and creeping indifference on the other. There is zero excitement around Hibs this season and that’s simply a reflection of how the club is: the CE, the manager, the captain, the team, all exude a low level lack of intensity.

Incoherent is the word I would use to describe our club’s collective psyche at the moment.

Yep I'm seeing folk who sit near me, some who used to be up on their feet urging the team on, others who were up on their feet howling abuse. Now they sit and do very little. If they turn up at all that is.

[we are hibs]

The occasional trip to hospitality must pay..

[Billy Whizz]

The occasional trip to hospitality must pay..

Do you ever see any of the top brass visiting the East or FF pre match
I would reckon there’s at least 6 directors I wouldn’t know what they looked like

[ChuckNor]

A nonsense post.

Judging by the response to this thread, you are wrong. Instead of just declaring this a nonsense post, why not tell me why? Do you think things on the pitch (where it really matters) have improved since Ben’s arrival?

[One Day Soon]

There’s not a single institution of any sort whose success or failure isn’t ultimately determined by the quality of its leadership. That’s where the power always lies. It’s either exercised well or badly, or alternatively it just isn’t exercised at all.

There are two people in leadership positions at our club, the person called Chief Executive and the person who is the real Chief Executive. That’s where the root of our problems sit.

[Since90+2]

You’ve just made that up. The mood around the club is better than it’s ever been.

Bit early for the Fringe ain't it.

[AL-Qaholik]

Should never have survived the Maloney shambles.
Get him, The Gordons, Montgomery and McDermott out of this club and we might have half a chance of retaining some sort of soul.
Right now, we are nothing more than a “Sports Franchise”.

[marinello59]

People talk like this £6 million investment is gonna change everything. If you add our losses from last year together with failing to make top 6 and Europe this year then you all but wipe that £6 million out.

Yeap. Our poor performance this year threatens to wipe out any advantage the Foley money should give us. Let’s hope results go the right way for us next week.

[Brightside]

Should never have survived the Maloney shambles.
Get him, The Gordons, Montgomery and McDermott out of this club and we might have half a chance of retaining some sort of soul.
Right now, we are nothing more than a “Sports Franchise”.

Amazing. Bring in who then? Honestly. Where are all you lot when we win games. It’s the same watching Hibs for the last 30 years. Sometime good sometime rubbish. Nothing changes.

[flash]

Should never have survived the Maloney shambles.
Get him, The Gordons, Montgomery and McDermott out of this club and we might have half a chance of retaining some sort of soul.
Right now, we are nothing more than a “Sports Franchise”.

Get the owners out the club?

The owners who have spent more on transfers than any other by miles and are in the process of revamping the stadium?

What is this mythical soul we are in danger of losing?

This is just a bang average run of the mill season for us in the last 40 odd years with a few exceptions both better and on occasions far worse.

We are a shambolic, under achieving organisation and have been for my entire life as a supporter.

We finally seem to have owners with drive and ambition which needs to successfully transfer onto the park or none of it will matter.

The owners biggest mistake has been their inability to pick the right manager but that's hardly unique to them is it?

[easty]

You’ve just made that up. The mood around the club is better than it’s ever been.

27808

[scoopyboy]

I would let BK deal with the financial side of things, hes bringing lots of money into the club.

However I wouldn't let him anywhere near football decisions.

[AL-Qaholik]

Get the owners out the club?

The owners who have spent more on transfers than any other by miles and are in the process of revamping the stadium?

What is this mythical soul we are in danger of losing?

This is just a bang average run of the mill season for us in the last 40 odd years with a few exceptions both better and on occasions far worse.

We are a shambolic, under achieving organisation and have been for my entire life as a supporter.

We finally seem to have owners with drive and ambition which needs to successfully transfer onto the park or none of it will matter.

The owners biggest mistake has been their inability to pick the right manager but that's hardly unique to them is it?

The “soul” is the connection of the fans with the club.
It’s all but gone - Easter Rd is a library with a drummer busking outside the door.
It’s been empty by the 80th minute more often than not this season.
Without that connection, we drop like a stone.
Plenty of folk not renewed for next season by all accounts. Nobody is my group of 8 has - nor have a good number of folk who sit around us. More will follow if this trend continues.
My group have said we’ll reassess before the start of next season and if Montgomery & Kensell, in particular, are still there we won’t renew and will just pick & choose games.
Ron Gordon was the owner.
We are now owned by his estate - obviously no fault of theirs’, and not something anybody saw coming, but also not a sustainable position for the club.
Black Knight money could help but, so far, the only player that’s improved us is Maolida and he’s the one we can’t afford. Even with BK money.
The entire model needs ripped up and started again. That doesn’t happen, for me, with The Gordons/Kensell at the helm.

[flash]

The “soul” is the connection of the fans with the club.
It’s all but gone - Easter Rd is a library with a drummer busking outside the door.
It’s been empty by the 80th minute more often than not this season.
Without that connection, we drop like a stone.
Plenty of folk not renewed for next season by all accounts. Nobody is my group of 8 has - nor have a good number of folk who sit around us. More will follow if this trend continues.
My group have said we’ll reassess before the start of next season and if Montgomery & Kensell, in particular, are still there we won’t renew and will just pick & choose games.
Ron Gordon was the owner.
We are now owned by his estate - obviously no fault of theirs’, and not something anybody saw coming, but also not a sustainable position for the club.
Black Knight money could help but, so far, the only player that’s improved us is Maolida and he’s the one we can’t afford. Even with BK money.
The entire model needs ripped up and started again. That doesn’t happen, for me, with The Gordons/Kensell at the helm.

Presumably we had this "soul" during all the other awful seasons we have endured before we were taken on by the Gordons?

The relegations, the season without an away win, the season we couldn't get out of the Championship, the numerous seasons we were watched by 7 or 8000 people if we were lucky, the 22 match run without beating Hertz etc.

I attended practically every match for about 20 years from 1984ish and I can confirm that large chunks of my soul disappeared during that time never to return.

By all means be unhappy about this latest in a long line of incredibly disappointing seasons but let's leave out the ludicrous idea that things were so much better in the good old days.

I was there and, bar the occasional outlier, they were far from it.

[flash]

Oh aye and let's not pretend that the stadium being half empty before the end is somehow exclusive to the current regime either.

[Pretty Boy]

Not long after he arrived at Hibs I asked him what our ambitions were and what the ceiling was. He said the first priority had to be securing regular top 4 finishes because of the financial stability that brings. That conversation was part of a podcast so can be listened to if anyone wants to verify what was said.

In the seasons since we have missed out on top 6, finished 5th and look odds on to finish in the bottom 6 again. That's a failure to hit a fairly modest target by any measure. Add to that we have sacked 3 managers in that time and recruited dozens of players (many of whom made no meaningful contributions).

A healthy balance sheet and completion of infrastructure projects was rarely accepted as a defence of the football failure of the much maligned Rod Petrie when he was CEO and/or chairman. I'm not sure why Kensell is judged to lower standards. He inherited a really good situation at Hibs, of course there was work to be done but we had a modern stadium as opposed to a relic from the 50s and a fully built training centre so the big infrastructures the likes of Hearts and Aberdeen still had/have to complete were done. He's done well commercially, it would be churlish to argue otherwise, but the football has been close to an umiitiagted disaster and he has to shoulder a decent chunk of the blame for that.

[Brightside]

An unmitigated disaster? You mind we got relegated not that long ago?

[7Hero]

[QUOTE=TrinityHFC;7628435]A lot of the spend was on facilities that will have a longer period of pay off.
]

Simply not true , the facilities are depreciated in the accounts, they make up roughly 10 percent of the losses figure.

The losses are down to gross negligence

[Northernhibee]

An unmitigated disaster? You mind we got relegated not that long ago?

You mind we finished third and never failed to get to Hampden even more recently, and someone had a brilliant idea to waste money on utter pish like Melkersen, Henderson, Hauge, and Deferriere instead of just doing the common sense thing and backing the first team to try and get that again?

[andrew70]

Anyone claiming Kensell needs to go or has been a “disaster” clearly doesn’t understand his role or his successes.

He can’t help the players not being good enough. We improved the squad in January, results improved, yet it still leaves a lot to do.

The owners and BK have backed every manager how have they done that? By increasing revenue no end, thanks BK.

We need a root and branch overhaul of the squad and we’ll get that in the summer.

It’s a case of, quite rightly, sticking with the process.

It’s on the players for me.

[Paulie Walnuts]

An unmitigated disaster? You mind we got relegated not that long ago?

:faf:

God knows what benefits you get from Kensell but they must be unreal.

[Godsahibby]

You mind we finished third and never failed to get to Hampden even more recently, and someone had a brilliant idea to waste money on utter pish like Melkersen, Henderson, Hauge, and Deferriere instead of just doing the common sense thing and backing the first team to try and get that again?

TBF we did get a pretty decent return (financially) on that investment. That money will help the first team..

[Northernhibee]

TBF we did get a pretty decent return (financially) on that investment. That money will help the first team..

It would if we knew how to spend it. The fact we signed the equally pish Vente shows we haven’t.

It goes back to add to the evidence though - I have no doubt that Kensell is an excellent salesman. The rest though - nope, not for me.

[andrew70]

You mind we finished third and never failed to get to Hampden even more recently, and someone had a brilliant idea to waste money on utter pish like Melkersen, Henderson, Hauge, and Deferriere instead of just doing the common sense thing and backing the first team to try and get that again?

Melkersen, the same guy BK worked an unbelievable profit on?

[Since90+2]

It would if we knew how to spend it. The fact we signed the equally pish Vente shows we haven’t.

It goes back to add to the evidence though - I have no doubt that Kensell is an excellent salesman. The rest though - nope.

Vente equally as pish as Melkerson? Come on eh.

[Northernhibee]

Vente equally as pish as Melkerson? Come on eh.

When did he last score a goal from open play?

He offers absolutely zero. He had a goal scoring start to his time here but so did Mark Oxley.

And we spent a fortune on him.

[Northernhibee]

Melkersen, the same guy BK worked an unbelievable profit on?

Aye, the guy who never scored a league goal for us.

Thanks for proving a point - the only defence of Kensell is “he brings money in”. Footballing wise, there is no defence of him at all.

[CapitalGreen]

Im old enough to remember when football teams played badly it was because the players weren’t good enough.

Will changing CEO turn Rocky into a competent centre back? Will David Marshall suddenly remember his job is to stop the ball going in the net? Will Joe Newell finally turn up in a game that matters?

[MWHIBBIES]

Correct, Dempster was right place right time. Couldn’t get a front of shirt sponsor hence the thank you nhs.

:faf:

Yeah, Dempster inherited such a great team in a great place. Honestly behave yourself. She inherited an utter mess and won the cup 2 years later.

[andrew70]

Aye, the guy who never scored a league goal for us.

Thanks for proving a point - the only defence of Kensell is “he brings money in”. Footballing wise, there is no defence of him at all.

That’s his job. To bring money in. He does that perfectly well.

He can’t defend cross balls on a Sat.

[andrew70]

Im old enough to remember when football teams played badly it was because the players weren’t good enough.

Will changing CEO turn Rocky into a competent centre back? Will David Marshall suddenly remember his job is to stop the ball going in the net? Will Joe Newell finally turn up in a game that matters?

Exactly this. Agendas often prove to be with vile intentions unfortunately.

[Northernhibee]

That’s his job. To bring money in. He does that perfectly well.

He can’t defend cross balls on a Sat.

There’s been a clear shift in signing policy since Jack Ross left and focus on things like hospitality suites and results have gone south since.


Is that the decision of Rocky or Triantis?

[easty]

That’s his job. To bring money in. He does that perfectly well.

He can’t defend cross balls on a Sat.

He could probably defend them as well as Rocky, Fish and Triantis

[andrew70]

There’s been a clear shift in signing policy since Jack Ross left and focus on things like hospitality suites and results have gone south since.


Is that the decision of Rocky or Triantis?

You are a worry.

[Northernhibee]

Exactly this. Agendas often prove to be with vile intentions unfortunately.

I’ll be completely open about my dislike of BK.

I’m very unhappy with how the focus appears to have been taken off the first team either consciously or subconsciously. The development team concept was a shambles. I’m sure that’s tough to disagree with.

I wasn’t impressed how the departure of Ross and LJ was handled.


I also haven’t been impressed with responses in regards to fan experience at away games and the management of a minority of fans behaving anti socially towards other Hibs fans by the club.


Put simply - as a football fan I care about the first team on the pitch and the experience of going to a game of football and spending good money on it and both of those have notably regressed since the return of fans since COVID.

I may have it wrong but it feels like BK has been a constant of overseeing a lot of this and the accounts do not interest me unless we’re in trouble as a club.

It’s possibly harsh as his role will encompass a lot more than just this but it’s what I as a Hibs fan cares about and it’s been grim for some time.

Maybe if the footballing department is given a bundle of a lot more autonomy then it could work but for just now it just feels like we’re making the same mistakes as a club over and over.

[jeffers]

There’s been a clear shift in signing policy since Jack Ross left and focus on things like hospitality suites and results have gone south since.


Is that the decision of Rocky or Triantis?

They are not mutually exclusive though. Increasing revenue allows us to spend more on the playing side which we are doing.

I’m not sure what Kensell was expected to do when the owner’s son wanted to play Moneyball. He recognised that things were needing changed and it was him that pushed for a DoF.

As flash and Brightside have said we have been pish for most of my lifetime and are total underachievers. It’s nothing new. What is different is we are actively working to bring in more money to give us the best chance of on field success. We are one decent managerial appointment from that happening. But at the risk of boring everyone I’ll repeat, appointing managers at our level is not easy.

[Northernhibee]

They are not mutually exclusive though. Increasing revenue allows us to spend more on the playing side which we are doing.

I’m not sure what Kensell was expected to do when the owner’s son wanted to play Moneyball. He recognised that things were needing changed and it was him that pushed for a DoF.

As flash and Brightside have said we have been pish for most of my lifetime and are total underachievers. It’s nothing new. What is different is we are actively working to bring in more money to give us the best chance of on field success. We are one decent managerial appointment from that happening. But at the risk of boring everyone I’ll repeat, appointing managers at our level is not easy.

Maybe so. I’d love to be wrong, I really would.

[jeffers]

Maybe so. I’d love to be wrong, I really would.

It’s the hope that kills you :greengrin

[Northernhibee]

It’s the hope that kills you :greengrin

I’m also willing to accept that I’m possibly wrong too. Some sign of improvement on the pitch and also for the experience of going to the football would go a long way in that, but it’s been a while since there’s been a glimpse of that.

[matty_f]

The “soul” is the connection of the fans with the club.
It’s all but gone - Easter Rd is a library with a drummer busking outside the door.
It’s been empty by the 80th minute more often than not this season.
Without that connection, we drop like a stone.
Plenty of folk not renewed for next season by all accounts. Nobody is my group of 8 has - nor have a good number of folk who sit around us. More will follow if this trend continues.
My group have said we’ll reassess before the start of next season and if Montgomery & Kensell, in particular, are still there we won’t renew and will just pick & choose games.
Ron Gordon was the owner.
We are now owned by his estate - obviously no fault of theirs’, and not something anybody saw coming, but also not a sustainable position for the club.
Black Knight money could help but, so far, the only player that’s improved us is Maolida and he’s the one we can’t afford. Even with BK money.
The entire model needs ripped up and started again. That doesn’t happen, for me, with The Gordons/Kensell at the helm.

Kensell said we'd had record renewals when he was speaking on Monday to the folk seeing the FF plans.

[matty_f]

There’s been a clear shift in signing policy since Jack Ross left and focus on things like hospitality suites and results have gone south since.


Is that the decision of Rocky or Triantis?

Why do you think they put a focus on those things? There was also a £5m debt built up to try and deliver sporting success, so it's inaccurate to say they focused on one over the other.

[jeffers]

I’m also willing to accept that I’m possibly wrong too. Some sign of improvement on the pitch and also for the experience of going to the football would go a long way in that, but it’s been a while since there’s been a glimpse of that.

I’m with you on that. I’m bored rigid with what I’m seeing on the pitch (in the main.) I just want the season over, have a reset in the summer and go again in the hope that it will improve with the latest man in the hot seat.

[Northernhibee]

Why do you think they put a focus on those things? There was also a £5m debt built up to try and deliver sporting success, so it's inaccurate to say they focused on one over the other.

My fear is that if we continue being poor on the pitch, those suites will be more difficult to fill.

And maybe then it’s a matter of how the money is spent as it’s not worked, and that’s a lot of money to spend for continuing poor football.

[Northernhibee]

I’m with you on that. I’m bored rigid with what I’m seeing on the pitch (in the main.) I just want the season over, have a reset in the summer and go again in the hope that it will improve with the latest man in the hot seat.

I’ll also be clear - if we see an improvement on the pitch resulting from the money being spent and the club strategy I’ll be the first to congratulate Ben Kensell. In my view the buck stops at the top and that goes both ways in terms of success and failure on the pitch. That comes with the territory of such a salary.

[Forza Fred]

Should never have survived the Maloney shambles.
Get him, The Gordons, Montgomery and McDermott out of this club and we might have half a chance of retaining some sort of soul.
Right now, we are nothing more than a “Sports Franchise”.


What a constructive post.

[chrisski33]

What a constructive post.

He has a point though

[Greensunshine]

Get the owners out the club?

The owners biggest mistake has been their inability to pick the right manager but that's hardly unique to them is it?

We’ll probably never pick the right manager simply because every time we go through a bad patch, the ITK supporters who claim to support the club show how intolerant they are.
Jack Ross being the example I’d use.

[jeffers]

I’ll also be clear - if we see an improvement on the pitch resulting from the money being spent and the club strategy I’ll be the first to congratulate Ben Kensell. In my view the buck stops at the top and that goes both ways in terms of success and failure on the pitch. That comes with the territory of such a salary.

I absolutely get that argument. If a football team is failing then the CEO can’t just point to increase in revenue and ignore the main reason we are in existence. So he ultimately has to accept some responsibility.

[SickBoy32]

Im old enough to remember when football teams played badly it was because the players weren’t good enough.

Will changing CEO turn Rocky into a competent centre back? Will David Marshall suddenly remember his job is to stop the ball going in the net? Will Joe Newell finally turn up in a game that matters?

The players are ***** aye.

The senior leadership within our club is also *****, no really sure how anyone can still be arguing against that?!

We signed Bushiri by mistake.
We played an illegible player leading to us forfeiting a competitive fixture.

Just 2 mistakes that would be laughed at in the EoS league for **** sake.

Tone at the top counts for a lot, and ours stinks - and has done for years.

We’ll achieve nothing with this snide salesman running our club unfortunately

[SickBoy32]

Why do you think they put a focus on those things? There was also a £5m debt built up to try and deliver sporting success, so it's inaccurate to say they focused on one over the other.

Are we now using the fact that £5m+ of debt was accrued in 3 or 4 years, as a yardstick as to their competence of running our club?

A calamity and it shows no signs of improving, as we edge closer to sacking the latest manager.

Remarkable that this guys no being chased out of town IMO.

[Stairway 2 7]

Are we now using the fact that £5m+ of debt was accrued in 3 or 4 years, as a yardstick as to their competence of running our club?

A calamity and it shows no signs of improving, as we edge closer to sacking the latest manager.

Remarkable that this guys no being chased out of town IMO.
Hardly remarkable he's increased turnover by almost 50% and by all accounts been instrumental in getting us new investment and a link up. He shouldn't be near any footballing decisions as they seem awful. I'm sure with Foley coming in he won't be. Hopefully we give over control to them and we can get a half dozen like Maolida and Moriah-Welsh as we need it. Hopefully their scouting network can get us a gaffer to as the money will be their we just need someone competent to spend it

[Green Reaper]

Hardly remarkable he's increased turnover by almost 50% and by all accounts been instrumental in getting us new investment and a link up. He shouldn't be near any footballing decisions as they seem awful. I'm sure with Foley coming in he won't be. Hopefully we give over control to them and we can get a half dozen like Maolida and Moriah-Welsh as we need it. Hopefully their scouting network can get us a gaffer to as the money will be their we just need someone competent to spend it

Good post Stairway and agree with you. It is important to have the right manager but you also need the finances to back them. We have increased finances and have the investors to support us, we now need to find the right man to manage us and, hopefully, the BK resources will help with that.

[blackpoolhibs]

Do you ever see any of the top brass visiting the East or FF pre match
I would reckon there’s at least 6 directors I wouldn’t know what they looked like

I say the same most week about defenders.

[matty_f]

Are we now using the fact that £5m+ of debt was accrued in 3 or 4 years, as a yardstick as to their competence of running our club?

A calamity and it shows no signs of improving, as we edge closer to sacking the latest manager.

Remarkable that this guys no being chased out of town IMO.

We aren't doing anything, and I certainly wasn't saying running up £5m debt was competent.

[ScottB]

I think we can say that under the Gordon’s, commercial income has significantly improved over the previous regime, but given how poor things had become on that front (how many years did we go without a proper shirt sponsor?), improving it doesn’t have to mean it was some unique set of skills only Ron and Ben could provide, indeed, they’ve taken us up towards what Hearts and Aberdeen were already doing.

We have also consistently had much smaller budgets than our direct rivals, while more money doesn’t guarantee success, as Aberdeen have shown and, I would say, Hearts probably haven’t delivered value for money on what their fans and benefactor has injected, trying to achieve success with less is a lot harder. We hear that Ben was important in landing the BK millions, but even if that turns out to be an annual payment (don’t think they’ve said it is?), it’s only closing the gap on what Hearts have been spending, and is the sort of budget uplift Ron himself promised on arrival.

So I think we can say Ben has done alright off the park, but potentially that was some fairly low hanging fruit, going from no sponsors to having some doesn’t sound like a difficult task, does it. On the park, under him and the Gordon’s, we’ve drifted, with no clear plan, going from experienced Scottish manager, to promising rookie, to experienced journeyman failure, to successful winner on the rise, suggests not only do they pick the wrong man, they chuck out their entire rationale next time round.

In the post BK world, how does the club work? Is Ben needed? Certainly not in football matters. Same with Ian Gordon and our DoF, if transfer policy will heavily revolve around the BK group, what are they doing? Speaking of our supposed DoF, what signings have been his? January looked like Foley picks alongside Monty’s man Triantis. What value has he brought, what value will he bring in future?

Personally I’d be happy with shipping out pretty much everyone involved in first team football at the club. Look to the knowledge in Foley’s group to identify a skilled administrator, Director of Football, coaches, scouts etc. Tear it all up and start again.

[matty_f]

I think we can say that under the Gordon’s, commercial income has significantly improved over the previous regime, but given how poor things had become on that front (how many years did we go without a proper shirt sponsor?), improving it doesn’t have to mean it was some unique set of skills only Ron and Ben could provide, indeed, they’ve taken us up towards what Hearts and Aberdeen were already doing.

We have also consistently had much smaller budgets than our direct rivals, while more money doesn’t guarantee success, as Aberdeen have shown and, I would say, Hearts probably haven’t delivered value for money on what their fans and benefactor has injected, trying to achieve success with less is a lot harder. We hear that Ben was important in landing the BK millions, but even if that turns out to be an annual payment (don’t think they’ve said it is?), it’s only closing the gap on what Hearts have been spending, and is the sort of budget uplift Ron himself promised on arrival.

So I think we can say Ben has done alright off the park, but potentially that was some fairly low hanging fruit, going from no sponsors to having some doesn’t sound like a difficult task, does it. On the park, under him and the Gordon’s, we’ve drifted, with no clear plan, going from experienced Scottish manager, to promising rookie, to experienced journeyman failure, to successful winner on the rise, suggests not only do they pick the wrong man, they chuck out their entire rationale next time round.

In the post BK world, how does the club work? Is Ben needed? Certainly not in football matters. Same with Ian Gordon and our DoF, if transfer policy will heavily revolve around the BK group, what are they doing? Speaking of our supposed DoF, what signings have been his? January looked like Foley picks alongside Monty’s man Triantis. What value has he brought, what value will he bring in future?

Personally I’d be happy with shipping out pretty much everyone involved in first team football at the club. Look to the knowledge in Foley’s group to identify a skilled administrator, Director of Football, coaches, scouts etc. Tear it all up and start again.

Good post.

I think there definitely needs to be a proper review of the football operation at the club. When you're repeatedly sacking managers then you have a wider issue that needs addressed and everyone in every department should be critically reviewed.

[ScottB]

Good post.

I think there definitely needs to be a proper review of the football operation at the club. When you're repeatedly sacking managers then you have a wider issue that needs addressed and everyone in every department should be critically reviewed.

Ta!

I think the lack of a plan is what worries me most, in that, at our level, every player we sign or manager we appoint isn’t going to be a success, but we’ve previously been told we want to have an identity or a consistent approach, so that it’s easier when we do have to rotate new people in, whether because it hasn’t worked and they’ve been punted, or it has worked and they’ve moved on, I don’t see how, even looking at the last couple transfer windows, never mind manager appointments, that there’s any sense linking them all together.

Ross, Maloney, Johnson and Monty all have wildly different tactics, backgrounds and personalities. There’s clearly nothing consistent going on, and I suspect, it’s almost an overreaction each time. Hiring a promising rookie coach is a perfectly acceptable idea, it gave us Mowbray, Collins and Stubbs in my lifetime! But when Maloney didn’t work, the same folk who decided that’s what we needed, presumably in panic, over corrected into Johnson, very experienced, but a journeyman, sacked from every job he’s had, then we get the overcorrection of wanting a winner, someone who hasn’t just failed, which, again, sounds great in theory, but here we are in, presumably, the final days of Monty. If Gordon and Kensell are left to pick the next guy again, can anyone confidently predict what thinking will underpin that hunt?

[JimBHibees]

He has a point though

Yeah great point

[Onion]

Ta!

I think the lack of a plan is what worries me most, in that, at our level, every player we sign or manager we appoint isn’t going to be a success, but we’ve previously been told we want to have an identity or a consistent approach, so that it’s easier when we do have to rotate new people in, whether because it hasn’t worked and they’ve been punted, or it has worked and they’ve moved on, I don’t see how, even looking at the last couple transfer windows, never mind manager appointments, that there’s any sense linking them all together.

Ross, Maloney, Johnson and Monty all have wildly different tactics, backgrounds and personalities. There’s clearly nothing consistent going on, and I suspect, it’s almost an overreaction each time. Hiring a promising rookie coach is a perfectly acceptable idea, it gave us Mowbray, Collins and Stubbs in my lifetime! But when Maloney didn’t work, the same folk who decided that’s what we needed, presumably in panic, over corrected into Johnson, very experienced, but a journeyman, sacked from every job he’s had, then we get the overcorrection of wanting a winner, someone who hasn’t just failed, which, again, sounds great in theory, but here we are in, presumably, the final days of Monty. If Gordon and Kensell are left to pick the next guy again, can anyone confidently predict what thinking will underpin that hunt?

Got to just hope he gets lucky. Law of averages suggests if you have enough goes at picking a manager, you'll eventually get one that does an ok job. It's the pain of living through all the duds that sucks the life out of you, tho.

[LustForLeith]

What gets me about Kensell was a in the time he’s been here there’s been some horrendous decisions made when it comes to players and managers coming in. While he won’t have the final say in us buying players surely he must be thinking about ones we get in that don’t make the grade and end up punted. Also the managers coming in have been baffling.

What’s wrong with the players in particular? Is it the wrong players being bought in? Or are they the right players but they’re not being coached right? Or they are but they’re not being managed correctly.

I can’t help but think we’ve spent a lot in his stint on here on players and managers that we’ve wasted, money, time and effort. And I can’t help but feel no matter how much Bill Foley is investing its wasted on the current strife that we’ve got. And there comes a point that Kensell needs to shoulder some sort of the blame for this.

[hibeerealist]

It's not just Kensell, he's only part of the puzzle, the owners haven't got a clue. Ian Gordon is still kicking around without a scooby what he's doing, bloody hell he's actually our owner now. Don't care how much effort people say he puts in, he doesn't have any experience or success in football.

Our only hope now is that this Black Night group brings with them some real knowhow and experience to run things better, otherwise who knows what we do next. The owners won't replace themselves so I've not a clue....



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they are doing a good job at Bournmouth

[hibeerealist]

We’ll probably never pick the right manager simply because every time we go through a bad patch, the ITK supporters who claim to support the club show how intolerant they are.
Jack Ross being the example I’d use.


Our support is NOT intolerant.

Jack Ross went on to greater things as a Head Coach/Manager did he?

Naw JR has a nice safe position, a bit like the fitba he wanted played that bored us all sh it less!

[Northernhibee]

Our support is NOT intolerant.

Jack Ross went on to greater things as a Head Coach/Manager did he?

Naw JR has a nice safe position, a bit like the fitba he wanted played that bored us all sh it less!
Heckingbottom did.

[Since90+2]

Our support is NOT intolerant.

Jack Ross went on to greater things as a Head Coach/Manager did he?

Naw JR has a nice safe position, a bit like the fitba he wanted played that bored us all sh it less!

Jack Ross is one of the most successful Hibs managers f the last 20 years. A 3rd place finish and numerous semi finals and finals.

That says more about the failings of the club than him, but it's a fact nonetheless.

[LustForLeith]

Another thing about Kensell I’m not on is the amount of stuff you hear that he says when he’s in contact with Hibs fans. If it’s true (will be interesting about a certain player leaving in the summer) he’s always telling fans things he shouldn’t. You wonder if it was someone else doing it at the club would he be happy and turn a blind eye or would he take action?

[Billy Whizz]

Another thing about Kensell I’m not on is the amount of stuff you hear that he says when he’s in contact with Hibs fans. If it’s true (will be interesting about a certain player leaving in the summer) he’s always telling fans things he shouldn’t. You wonder if it was someone else doing it at the club would he be happy and turn a blind eye or would he take action?
Who’s leaving in the summer

[Silky]

Got to just hope he gets lucky. Law of averages suggests if you have enough goes at picking a manager, you'll eventually get one that does an ok job. It's the pain of living through all the duds that sucks the life out of you, tho.

That's the thing, though, is an OK job really what we want? The groundswell seems to be we want better than OK.

[04Sauzee]

Another thing about Kensell I’m not on is the amount of stuff you hear that he says when he’s in contact with Hibs fans. If it’s true (will be interesting about a certain player leaving in the summer) he’s always telling fans things he shouldn’t. You wonder if it was someone else doing it at the club would he be happy and turn a blind eye or would he take action?

Who's supposedly leaving?

[Green Reaper]

Who's supposedly leaving?

Someone posted Youan wants to leave

[Silky]

Who's supposedly leaving?

Vente, according to another thread!

[Billy Whizz]

Someone posted Youan wants to leave

Thought Youan wants Maolida to stay

[04Sauzee]

Vente, according to another thread!

Cheers, I hadn't read or heard that.

[Green Reaper]

Thought Youan wants Maolida to stay
Maybe crossed wires on my part, sure someone mentioned Youan wanting to leave though

Edit:Posted by HC on page 8 of the'Trust in NM' thread on PM board

[Greenio]

Guessing but I'd say based on the amount of self promo Youan does on his socials, he's certainly all about putting himself in the shop window.

[joe breezy]

I think football clubs should have a Chief Football Officer and a Chief Executive Officer

Sounds like BK is good for the latter but we need someone else for the former


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[RIP]

I think football clubs should have a Chief Football Officer and a Chief Executive Officer

Sounds like BK is good for the latter but we need someone else for the former

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's exactly what we do have in place JB.

BK is one of the best performing CEOs in Scottish Football in terms of income generation and stadium infrastructure, courtesy of our generous American family owners.

See the Brian McDermott thread. Ben appointed Brian Director of Football 15 months ago.

[Garymcl]

Interview with bill foley on sky news at 10; was on earlier very interesting about his vision fir Bournemouth

[AL-Qaholik]

Kensell said we'd had record renewals when he was speaking on Monday to the folk seeing the FF plans.

Having seen the dots now the seats are back on sale, it’s pretty safe to say this was yet more guff from our used-car-salesman-in-chief.
That’s a lot of blue…

[Hibernian Verse]

Our support is NOT intolerant.

Jack Ross went on to greater things as a Head Coach/Manager did he?

Naw JR has a nice safe position, a bit like the fitba he wanted played that bored us all sh it less!

It is, but it's not a Hibs fan niche - all football clubs fans are the same. Neilson got chased out of Hearts initially for drawing a game then losing the replay against us in 2016.

[Jones28]

I think we can say that under the Gordon’s, commercial income has significantly improved over the previous regime, but given how poor things had become on that front (how many years did we go without a proper shirt sponsor?), improving it doesn’t have to mean it was some unique set of skills only Ron and Ben could provide, indeed, they’ve taken us up towards what Hearts and Aberdeen were already doing.

We have also consistently had much smaller budgets than our direct rivals, while more money doesn’t guarantee success, as Aberdeen have shown and, I would say, Hearts probably haven’t delivered value for money on what their fans and benefactor has injected, trying to achieve success with less is a lot harder. We hear that Ben was important in landing the BK millions, but even if that turns out to be an annual payment (don’t think they’ve said it is?), it’s only closing the gap on what Hearts have been spending, and is the sort of budget uplift Ron himself promised on arrival.

So I think we can say Ben has done alright off the park, but potentially that was some fairly low hanging fruit, going from no sponsors to having some doesn’t sound like a difficult task, does it. On the park, under him and the Gordon’s, we’ve drifted, with no clear plan, going from experienced Scottish manager, to promising rookie, to experienced journeyman failure, to successful winner on the rise, suggests not only do they pick the wrong man, they chuck out their entire rationale next time round.

In the post BK world, how does the club work? Is Ben needed? Certainly not in football matters. Same with Ian Gordon and our DoF, if transfer policy will heavily revolve around the BK group, what are they doing? Speaking of our supposed DoF, what signings have been his? January looked like Foley picks alongside Monty’s man Triantis. What value has he brought, what value will he bring in future?

Personally I’d be happy with shipping out pretty much everyone involved in first team football at the club. Look to the knowledge in Foley’s group to identify a skilled administrator, Director of Football, coaches, scouts etc. Tear it all up and start again.

Agree with everything here but especially that last point.

At what point does continuity become stagnation? If the same people are keeping their jobs manager after manager then at what point does it become stale?

Thats sounds like I want people like SDG to lose their positions and I don't want that at all, but does that mean he's on a pathway to becoming manager?

For example, if we miss out on top 6 I think NM should go, its a real bare minimum we should expect. SDG gets the job to the end of the season not as a caretaker, but as an audition. If he shows enough and can deliver then he gets a 1 year rolling deal, and if he shows enough again then it could be revisited.

Is that what could happen or would he just go back to being a whatever coach? Corners or set pieces or half time pieces or what?

[GreenCastle]

Kensell said we'd had record renewals when he was speaking on Monday to the folk seeing the FF plans.

Looking online - really not sure about that?

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/hibernianfc/EDP/Season/Index/3676

[Paulie Walnuts]

Having seen the dots now the seats are back on sale, it’s pretty safe to say this was yet more guff from our used-car-salesman-in-chief.
That’s a lot of blue…

Record renewals can mean a whole host of different things I suppose.

We may have had record renewals in the first hour of sales/in the first week/compared to this date last season/compared to this point in the renewal window this time last season.

There will absolutely be a caveat of some form to the statement as we simply haven’t had a record number of renewals without caveat.

[GreenNWhiteArmy]

Having seen the dots now the seats are back on sale, it’s pretty safe to say this was yet more guff from our used-car-salesman-in-chief.
That’s a lot of blue…

Is that dig really necessary? I'd be amazed if you have any of the sales data in front of you from the last few years

The personal insults at club personnel when we're not performing to our capabilities irk me and are certainly not, as we like to claim "Hibs class"

[Hibs90]

Looking online - really not sure about that?

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/hibernianfc/EDP/Season/Index/3676

More have renewed than at the same time last year I think is what he means.

[Lago]

Is that dig really necessary? I'd be amazed if you have any of the sales data in front of you from the last few years

The personal insults at club personnel when we're not performing to our capabilities irk me and are certainly not, as we like to claim "Hibs class"
I agree some of the stuff aimed at staff is unnecessary, remember LJ labeled as Del Boy which I found offensive, far from funny.

[Since90+2]

More have renewed than at the same time last year I think is what he means.

That's only because of the earlier seat release date. He would know that himself, not sure why he's trying to spin it as a positive.

[Billy Whizz]

That's only because of the earlier seat release date. He would know that himself, not sure why he's trying to spin it as a positive.

The dates are the same as 23/24, but shorter than years before Covid, where you had until the 1st week of June to keep your seat


I’ve renewed but haven’t looked at the T&C’s
Are we still getting a friendly thrown in next season, and discount at the food kiosks?

[Alex Trager]

That's only because of the earlier seat release date. He would know that himself, not sure why he's trying to spin it as a positive.

Because that’s what he does.

Under any slight scrutiny the guy seems to waffle.

He was on about how Luzern’s budget was £8M compared to our £5/6M so it was a big scalp.

My maye pointed out repeatedly that it costs £10 for a pint in Luzern vs £5.5 for a pint in Edinburgh so you’d expect their budget to be bigger (cost of living is higher).

BK just kept repeating the same stuff.

That’s my only example of him under scrutiny. Salesman seems an apt description.

[JimBHibees]

The dates are the same as 23/24, but shorter than years before Covid, where you had until the 1st week of June to keep your seat


I’ve renewed but haven’t looked at the T&C’s
Are we still getting a friendly thrown in next season, and discount at the food kiosks?

Ok so dates are same as last season so reasonable for BK to compare.

[Billy Whizz]

Ok so dates are same as last season so reasonable for BK to compare.

On sales upto seat release date, yes

[tamig]

Because that’s what he does.

Under any slight scrutiny the guy seems to waffle.

He was on about how Luzern’s budget was £8M compared to our £5/6M so it was a big scalp.

My maye pointed out repeatedly that it costs £10 for a pint in Luzern vs £5.5 for a pint in Edinburgh so you’d expect their budget to be bigger (cost of living is higher).

BK just kept repeating the same stuff.

That’s my only example of him under scrutiny. Salesman seems an apt description.
And a fine salesman he must be. The turnaround in our commercial activities and the associated uplift in income is very impressive. That can’t be disputed. But the haters will keep on hating.

[JimBHibees]

On sales upto seat release date, yes

Ok cheers

[Alex Trager]

And a fine salesman he must be. The turnaround in our commercial activities and the associated uplift in income is very impressive. That can’t be disputed. But the haters will keep on hating.

Indeed.

Neither can the ***** results he’s overseen.

[Stuart93]

And a fine salesman he must be. The turnaround in our commercial activities and the associated uplift in income is very impressive. That can’t be disputed. But the haters will keep on hating.

Almost as if some of us are interested in results on the park eh with it being a football team we support

He’s overseen a disaster with regards to what’s happening on the pitch.

[tamig]

Almost as if some of us are interested in results on the park eh with it being a football team we support

He’s overseen a disaster with regards to what’s happening on the pitch.

I’m as pissed off as anyone about the way things have gone on the pitch. I don’t see the need to resort to personal insults against folk though. Some of the garbage thrown at BK is disgraceful imo. The mythical “Hibs Class” indeed.

[Allant1981]

The dates are the same as 23/24, but shorter than years before Covid, where you had until the 1st week of June to keep your seat


I’ve renewed but haven’t looked at the T&C’s
Are we still getting a friendly thrown in next season, and discount at the food kiosks?

Yip still get discount at kiosks and a friendly is included

[JimBHibees]

I’m as pissed off as anyone about the way things have gone on the pitch. I don’t see the need to resort to personal insults against folk though. Some of the garbage thrown at BK is disgraceful imo. The mythical “Hibs Class” indeed.

Totally agree

[Billy Whizz]

Yip still get discount at kiosks and a friendly is included

Thanks

[Stuart93]

I’m as pissed off as anyone about the way things have gone on the pitch. I don’t see the need to resort to personal insults against folk though. Some of the garbage thrown at BK is disgraceful imo. The mythical “Hibs Class” indeed.

I agree with you tbh. Doesn’t have to get personal.

[AL-Qaholik]

Is that dig really necessary? I'd be amazed if you have any of the sales data in front of you from the last few years

The personal insults at club personnel when we're not performing to our capabilities irk me and are certainly not, as we like to claim "Hibs class"

Fortunately for me, I couldn’t give a toss what you think. :aok:

These charlatans are overseeing abject failure and being paid a fortune for the privilege.

[CapitalGreen]

Because that’s what he does.

Under any slight scrutiny the guy seems to waffle.

He was on about how Luzern’s budget was £8M compared to our £5/6M so it was a big scalp.

My maye pointed out repeatedly that it costs £10 for a pint in Luzern vs £5.5 for a pint in Edinburgh so you’d expect their budget to be bigger (cost of living is higher).

BK just kept repeating the same stuff.

That’s my only example of him under scrutiny. Salesman seems an apt description.

Beating Luzern was a scalp and a great result. They have a bigger budget and their players also pay less tax, I’m not sure how the difference in the cost of a pint changes the fact they had a decent financial advantage over us. I’d call your mate repeated “point” s**** patter rather than scrutiny so I can see why he didn’t give him the time of day.

[Alex Trager]

Beating Luzern was a scalp and a great result. They have a bigger budget and their players also pay less tax, I’m not sure how the difference in the cost of a pint changes the fact they had a decent financial advantage over us. I’d call your mate repeated “point” s**** patter rather than scrutiny so I can see why he didn’t give him the time of day.

Of course he never used the cost of a pint as a metric to measure the budgets.

That was a flippant point made by me.

The overall point was that the budgets are nowhere near as far apart when you consider the cost of living in Luzern Vs Edinburgh.

How much would a Hibs player’s wage get them in Luzern vs in Edinburgh? A half pint to our full pint for a start.

With that in mind, Luzern simply have to offer more money than us.

[Frazerbob]

I was talking to someone very senior at the weekend. According to them, over 9000 have renewed, around 2000 up compared to the same time last year.

[blackpoolhibs]

I was talking to someone very senior at the weekend. According to them, over 9000 have renewed, around 2000 up compared to the same time last year.

:thumbsup:Great news.

[One Day Soon]

I was talking to someone very senior at the weekend. According to them, over 9000 have renewed, around 2000 up compared to the same time last year.

We renewed in anticipation of what may happen in the summer transfer window with the BKs more than anything else. That was in spite of how we’ve been playing, not because of it.

[Brightside]

We renewed in anticipation of what may happen in the summer transfer window with the BKs more than anything else. That was in spite of how we’ve been playing, not because of it.

So the CEO was being honest?

[Hibs90]

Time is up Ben.

Years of failure on the park where it matters under your leadership. Time to step aside and use your massive salary elsewhere.

[.Sean.]

Get the bottle job bottle tanned Burton suit wearing Arnold Clark salesman to ****

[we are hibs]

Isn't Ben "teaching" Ian Gordon on how to run a football club? Dear god. Who knows what state we will be in come 5 years time.

[Pretty Boy]

He has been in post for 3 full seasons. We have missed top 6 in two of those.

He has to take at least part of the responsibility, ultimately he's the man charged with running the show day to day.

I'll always give him credit for the commercial work he has done but ultimately we are a football club. That may generate the income to build the football side but with the wrong people making the wrong decisions on that front we will continue to fail. We have spent more than we have ever spent this season and are miles behind Kilmarnock and St Mirren.

[A Hi-Bee]

He has been in post for 3 full seasons. We have missed top 6 in two of those.

He has to take at least part of the responsibility, ultimately he's the man charged with running the show day to day.

I'll always give him credit for the commercial work he has done but ultimately we are a football club. That may generate the income to build the football side but with the wrong people making the wrong decisions on that front we will continue to fail. We have spent more than we have ever spent this season and are miles behind Kilmarnock and St Mirren.

Kensell, doing a great job with the cash side of the business, who is in charge of the football side of the business.

[Stuart93]

It’s time to go Ben

We’re a football team. And we’re absolute **** at football

[Drewster]

He has been in post for 3 full seasons. We have missed top 6 in two of those.

He has to take at least part of the responsibility, ultimately he's the man charged with running the show day to day.

I'll always give him credit for the commercial work he has done but ultimately we are a football club. That may generate the income to build the football side but with the wrong people making the wrong decisions on that front we will continue to fail. We have spent more than we have ever spent this season and are miles behind Kilmarnock and St Mirren.

He deserves no credit for his commercial work - our last set of accounts were shocking - huge losses and unsustainable spending on player wages!!

[AL-Qaholik]

Haemorrhaging money and missing top 6 twice in his 3 years at the club.
Leave. Now.

[NC1875]

He’s one of those twats with a massively over inflated ego.

Like someone says above, our last accounts were shocking. And the footballs shocking.

Not sure he’s all he likes to make out he is.

Should be gone with the manager and half the team.

[Hibiza]

Something to do with a tan I reckon

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

And a fancy watch . Out . Take Monty and Brian too.

[marinello59]

I was talking to someone very senior at the weekend. According to them, over 9000 have renewed, around 2000 up compared to the same time last year.

The seat release date was moved forward.

[Coco Bryce]

I was talking to someone very senior at the weekend. According to them, over 9000 have renewed, around 2000 up compared to the same time last year.

I would take that with a pinch of salt.
He's not gonna say the sales have been poor is he?

I know a fair few that still haven't renewed yet. In fact. The Ticket office has been phoning people chasing them up.

[Chorley Hibee]

345k a year he's drawing for this ****.

Just let that settle in.

[joe breezy]

I think the review will see him keep his job but he won’t be involved in the football side


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[TrinityHFC]

I think the review will see him keep his job but he won’t be involved in the football side


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What does this mean? He’s CEO so he is ultimately responsible for all of the parts of the club. It doesn’t mean day to day he’s doing those jobs.

How could he keep his job as CEO of a football ball club and have no involvement in the ‘football side?’

[Leitherhibs]

He’s going nowhere. 345k for a CEO that can’t construct an email.

[Since90+2]

Pretty certain he's the highest paid CEO as measured against percentage of turnover of any club in the SPL too. Mental.

[flash]

Pretty certain he's the highest paid CEO as measured against percentage of turnover of any club in the SPL too. Mental.

Would be interesting to see those figures and also tie them in with how much each CEO has increased turnover as a percentage too.

[JimBHibees]

Would be interesting to see those figures and also tie them in with how much each CEO has increased turnover as a percentage too.

Also the bonuses which will no doubt be linked in their contracts which unlikely to be made public

[Alex Trager]

Pretty certain he's the highest paid CEO as measured against percentage of turnover of any club in the SPL too. Mental.

Think Celtic’s is on a bigger wage against turnover iirc.

But BK is (or was pre recent accounts) the second or third highest.


He’s way above our ‘competitors’ for sure.

[SickBoy32]

Would be interesting to see those figures and also tie them in with how much each CEO has increased turnover as a percentage too.

However much he’s increased the turnover by, he’s increased expenditure by even more !

We finished 3rd and Kensell then arrived in the summer. His awful running of our club has led to us having 3 pretty poor seasons, missing out on £5m+ each year in potential European prize money, we’ve now missed the boat on this. Also canny pick a manager.

Let’s get someone else in to try improve things, we certainly could given his obscene salary 👍

[KWJ]

Of course he never used the cost of a pint as a metric to measure the budgets.

That was a flippant point made by me.

The overall point was that the budgets are nowhere near as far apart when you consider the cost of living in Luzern Vs Edinburgh.

How much would a Hibs player’s wage get them in Luzern vs in Edinburgh? A half pint to our full pint for a start.

With that in mind, Luzern simply have to offer more money than us.

This is a strange post. I'd think Youan is on more money at Hibs than he was at St. Gallen. He doesn't give a toss that a pint is cheaper here. His home may be cheaper too but as pointed out, he's paying less tax.

Luzern was a very good win and BKs point is valid.

[Since452]

I'd keep Kensell and have him running the non football side. To his credit he's done a great job on that. I'd get him as far away from the football side as possible and restructure.

You look at the "leadership" spine of the club, Ian Gordon, Kensell, McDermott, Montgomery. They have no working knowledge of Scottish football. We are hugely underperforming on the park and we're the most un-streetwise team in the league. That needs to change. Everyone knows Scottish football is blood and snotters apart from us. We can't see games out, we're being out smarted by the likes of Craig Levein and floundering about the bottom six with a huge budget.

Keep Kensell doing what he is good at and get the football side in order. Hopefully the BK's implement something,restructure and get the right people in the right positions. Go and appoint the people that are getting it right in our league at other clubs.

[Alex Trager]

This is a strange post. I'd think Youan is on more money at Hibs than he was at St. Gallen. He doesn't give a toss that a pint is cheaper here. His home may be cheaper too but as pointed out, he's paying less tax.

Luzern was a very good win and BKs point is valid.
He may well be on more than he was at St Gallen.

Firstly, we do not know if that is the case or not.
Secondly, even if it is, it does not take account of the fact that cost of living in Switzerland is a good bit higher than here.

So the difference in the budget, I think it was €8M plays £5M is not as big a gap as is made out because you HAVE to pay player more money because it is a higher cost of living.

Forget about the pints. They were simply used as a measure of expense ( when asking about the cost of thing most people ask ‘how much is a pint?’).

[big gogs]

Time is up Ben.

Years of failure on the park where it matters under your leadership. Time to step aside and use your massive salary elsewhere.
Hibs were struggling for many years before Ben Kendall arrival.theclub stagnated under Tom farmer and rod Petrie.I acknowledge Tom farmers taking over the club,but he done it for the community,thank you sir Tom.this club needs shaking up,could bill foley be the man.i believe he is.he wants to compete with the old firm,will he do it .he has the money and drive.

[Leitherhibs]

Some chat doing the rounds that Kensell is leaving? Not sure if it's part of the review outcomes or a pre-planned move. Anyone heard anything?

[PHeffernan]

Hibs were struggling for many years before Ben Kendall arrival.theclub stagnated under Tom farmer and rod Petrie.I acknowledge Tom farmers taking over the club,but he done it for the community,thank you sir Tom.this club needs shaking up,could bill foley be the man.i believe he is.he wants to compete with the old firm,will he do it .he has the money and drive.

Farmer and Petrie built a stadium and a training complex which was an amazing feat.
We were in hellish debt, had an ancient dump of a stadium and the players trained in public parks, dog **** and all.
The current regime has and is decorating the stadium and replaced the pitches with hybrid pitches.
If they build the full size covered indoor pitch at East Mains, as suggested, they will have made real progress.

As for Foley, he will be 80 before this year is out so both he and that drive you are speaking about could disappear overnight.
Hibs and Kensell are making steady progress off the pitch and will start making progress on the pitch as well. It's only 3 years since a world pandemic and we are coming out of a naive moneyball approach from the new owners but the big picture is we are in good financial shape and ready to move forward now after 2 hellish seasons in 3.

Kensell is doing fine on the commercials and McDermott will do well with the player movement in and out if he remains. Hopefully he is here for at least 5 more months to sort out all the summer business. Supporters are a fickle lot, nay wonder the club feels it has to fire spin at us all the time to calm us down.
Ian Gordon is the guy to judge Kensell because he actually knows what the guy has done well and what he hasn't.

[Mcbizz1998]

Some chat doing the rounds that Kensell is leaving? Not sure if it's part of the review outcomes or a pre-planned move. Anyone heard anything?

No idea but I hope so tbh. He has overseen the gradual decline at the club on the pitch since his arrival. No doubt improvements have been made off it but I'm led to believe it was all part of Ron's overall plan for the club as opposed to anything BK has spearheaded himself. Could be wrong (probably am) but would like to see Foley etc. appoint their own man.

[Since90+2]

No idea but I hope so tbh. He has overseen the gradual decline at the club on the pitch since his arrival. No doubt improvements have been made off it but I'm led to believe it was all part of Ron's overall plan for the club as opposed to anything BK has spearheaded himself. Could be wrong (probably am) but would like to see Foley etc. appoint their own man.

Agree I think he's been given too much credit for the off field stuff.

Ron identified that as a key area very early on and I suspect put most of the wheels in motion before his health declined.

[ancient hibee]

No idea but I hope so tbh. He has overseen the gradual decline at the club on the pitch since his arrival. No doubt improvements have been made off it but I'm led to believe it was all part of Ron's overall plan for the club as opposed to anything BK has spearheaded himself. Could be wrong (probably am) but would like to see Foley etc. appoint their own man.
Why should a minority shareholder get to appoint the Chief Executive?

[Ringothedog]

Why should a minority shareholder get to appoint the Chief Executive?

They wouldn’t unless the majority shareholder agrees. I think people are over exaggerating exactly what the Black Knights can actually do

[PHeffernan]

Why should a minority shareholder get to appoint the Chief Executive?

Correct ... and Kensell is the Gordon's guy. Why would they let a minority holder put their guy in as CEO. Bonkers.

[we are hibs]

Some chat doing the rounds that Kensell is leaving? Not sure if it's part of the review outcomes or a pre-planned move. Anyone heard anything?Doing the rounds where? I haven't seen anything.



Also i seen on the bounce a few months back something about a 3 year embargo from working in English football was part of the terms when Kensell left Norwich. anyone heard anything about that?

Sent from my SM-A405FN using Tapatalk

[Paulie Walnuts]

Why should a minority shareholder get to appoint the Chief Executive?

It will be the board, not the shareholders that appoint a new Chief Exec. BKFC have as much say as the Gordon’s now on that front.

[Allant1981]

They wouldn’t unless the majority shareholder agrees. I think people are over exaggerating exactly what the Black Knights can actually do

Think we would be daft to think the black knights are not running the show now, minority shareholding or not, why do you think the club were desperate for the vote to go through, it wasn't just for a £6m investment

[ChuckNor]

Go. You absolute imposter. Since you joined this club you have robbed it of its soul and managed to make us so much worse. The fans are utterly exhausted with the football. Your bull**** with hospitality and sponsorship, no one cares. All we want is a decent product on the park. You’ve oversaw three of the worst managerial appointments ever at this club, hiring people who had zero understanding of coaching a big club in Scotland. You turned your nose up at experience. You sacked the one manager who’d achieved anything with us after his first bad run and then decided to experiment with this utterly mad youth team that resulted in ZERO players coming through. None.

Rod Petrie attracted protests because of some of the rubbish that happened under his watch. Honestly, his time pails into comparison wit your ineptitude. How you’ve managed to land a pay rise is beyond me.

On the very basis you supported the Foley deal I now think it’ll be a disaster.

How there is no talk of fans demanding Kensell leave is beyond me. He has been a disgrace.


Bringing this thread back. Ben Kensell is the reason we are in the sorry mess we are in. The word I’m hearing is that he’s staying and potentially won’t be leaving for a long time to come. The “review” was a shambles.

[jeffers]

Bringing this thread back. Ben Kensell is the reason we are in the sorry mess we are in. The word I’m hearing is that he’s staying and potentially won’t be leaving for a long time to come. The “review” was a shambles.

Did he appoint Montgomery ?

[ChuckNor]

Did he appoint Montgomery ?

He is the CEO. Every decision falls on him. If someone he appointed hires and signs terrible players and managers then the buck stops with him.

Fan of hospitality by any chance?

[jeffers]

He is the CEO. Every decision falls on him. If someone he appointed hires and signs terrible players and managers then the buck stops with him.

Fan of hospitality by any chance?

Presumably you were saying the same about Petrie then.

Don’t begin to judge me. I’ve never been to hospitality in my puff.

[ChuckNor]

Presumably you were saying the same about Petrie then.

Don’t begin to judge me. I’ve never been to hospitality in my puff.

Absolutely. Was at the protests before relegation calling on him to resign. Ben Kensell has managed to squeeze in some incredible failures in his time with us. He should be let go also.

Maybe I’m reading into your message wrongly, but do you believe Kensell should stay? If so, why?

[Billy Whizz]

Presumably you were saying the same about Petrie then.

Don’t begin to judge me. I’ve never been to hospitality in my puff.

😂😂😂😂

[I'm Spartacus]

No idea but I hope so tbh. He has overseen the gradual decline at the club on the pitch since his arrival. No doubt improvements have been made off it but I'm led to believe it was all part of Ron's overall plan for the club as opposed to anything BK has spearheaded himself. Could be wrong (probably am) but would like to see Foley etc. appoint their own man.

This is the part I fear, and I fear it because some fans think this is how it should be working, and I fear it because it also might have some weight.

25% minority shareholding, doesn't mean you now rule and run our club as your ****ty little loophole.

I really do dispair at the mess we are in, top to botton, root and branch.

[truehibernian]

He’s is and has been an utter failure 👍 the decisions, the accounts, and the rapidly falling attendances prove that. A used car salesman is absolutely the correct personification of him 👍 More out his depth than our manager which is equally frightening. Sooner he’s moved on the better 👍

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Doing the rounds where? I haven't seen anything.



Also i seen on the bounce a few months back something about a 3 year embargo from working in English football was part of the terms when Kensell left Norwich. anyone heard anything about that?

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Gardenign leave of sorts but surely these clauses don’t stand up to the scrutiny of law - is that particular length of time not disproportionate and a restriction of trade?

[jeffers]

Absolutely. Was at the protests before relegation calling on him to resign. Ben Kensell has managed to squeeze in some incredible failures in his time with us. He should be let go also.

Maybe I’m reading into your message wrongly, but do you believe Kensell should stay? If so, why?

As was I.

I’m no great lover of Kensell but equally I don’t think he’s the devil some are portraying him as so until we find someone better he can stay. If your opinion is that as CEO it all falls on him then fair enough, but when the owner appoints his laddie as head of recruitment and that laddie ultimately becomes de facto owner you are in a difficult position. He recognised things weren’t working and pushed for a DoF to be appointed. I don’t know if he initiated it or led the negotiations but he’s been credited with the Black Knight’s investment which most think is a positive move.

I’ll repeat what I said on another thread. At our level every managerial appointment is a risk, for the majority of my time as a Hibs supporter we’ve got it wrong. There are no guarantees. I’m not going to slaughter anyone for the recent appointments, bar Johnson ‘cos I will never understand how anyone can listen to him speak and think he’s the best man for the job.

[Chorley Hibee]

I'm awaiting the club releasing a statement tomorrow...

Only for it to be about the resumption of the murder mystery nights at Easter Road.

[SteveHFC]

I'm awaiting the club releasing a statement tomorrow...

Only for it to be about the resumption of the murder mystery nights at Easter Road.

50% off for all season ticket holders.

[I'm Spartacus]

Ben Kensell should leave the club immediatly. Anyone who has any possible argument against that needs to seek help, I don't understand how a CEO cannot see how bad they are performing and how badly they are impacting the business, if a programme seller is ***** at their job they get punted, this is the same but the absolute top of the tree. I'd have hoped Ban would have had the balls to walk away and admit he was absolutley out his depth, but it's seems the sun beds have fried his bollocks to raisins and he's hanging about for some sort of pay off.

Ben K GTF.
Monty GTF.

Gordon's you are the bottom of the 3, but start looking for buyers because you are making a shop front of this whole thing.

[I'm Spartacus]

I'm awaiting the club releasing a statement tomorrow...

Only for it to be about the resumption of the murder mystery nights at Easter Road.


*** CLUB STATEMENT ***

The club can confirm that after a number of meetings over recent weeks and much consideration...














West Stand parking will be restricted for 2 weeks to allow for the lines to be painted. We apologies for the inconvience.

The Board of Directors

[One Day Soon]

He’s being paid £300,000 a year. He’s not going anywhere else voluntarily when he’s on that money. I suspect he’ll happily tolerate most anything from whoever is calling the shots, be that the Gordons or Black Knights. Meanwhile the Ben/Ian hybrid continues to develop at the top of our club with not a single football clue in its head.

[Iain G]

I'm awaiting the club releasing a statement tomorrow...

Only for it to be about the resumption of the murder mystery nights at Easter Road.

Why would they release a statement?!