Kensell Left The Club

[SteveHFC]

Hibernian FC today confirms the departure of Chief Executive Ben Kensell.

Kensell joined in July 2021 and helped the Club evolve significantly.

During his tenure, Hibernian FC increased its commercial revenue and overall turnover. Kensell was instrumental in the delivery of the Easter Road Stadium infrastructure investment project which now delivers a first-class matchday experience. He also played an integral role introducing Black Knight Football to Hibernian FC - a first of its kind of partnership in Scottish football.

On Kensell’s departure, the Gordon Family commented:

“We’d like to thank Ben for all his hard work and leadership over the last three-and-a-half-years, and we will be forever grateful for the support he provided our family after Ron’s passing. As a club, we have made positive strides forward under Ben’s guidance, and he will be leaving the Club in a better place.

"We’re always looking at the future of the Club, and after discussions with Ben, we mutually decided that it was the right time to part ways. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

During the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive Officer, Hibernian FC will continue to be led by its Board of Directors, with the Senior Management Team looking after the day-to-day operations.

[JohnM1875]

Mutual agreement. Interesting

[Col2]

New head of recruitment

New CEO

Onwards and upwards. BK was a coward hiding away when the **** hit the fan. More interested in wining and dining that hard bloody work.

[Stuart93]

I’m glad.

Decent work off the pitch however most of it overshadowed by being absolutely rotten on it.

Bye Ben

[blackpoolhibs]

He split opinions, he did some good and did some bad, we move on. :aok:

[Unseen work]

Ooft!

[Mcbizz1998]

Cheerio!!!

[Jamesie]

Let’s hope this wasn’t delaying / distracting from any signings.

[mixumatosis]

Did not have that on my bingo card for today to be fair.

[skyehibee]

Fantastic news

[joe breezy]

Wonder if it will mean increased Black Knights involvement


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[Irish_Steve]

As Barry Davies once said, "Interesting, very interesting!!"

[jeffers]

He split opinions, he did some good and did some bad, we move on. :aok:

Pretty accurate summation bh.

As when we lose a key player the important bit is who we bring in as a replacement.

[Centre Hawf]

Out before the AGM. Clever.

Either that or he's going to take the fall at it and won't be there to defend himself.

[04Sauzee]

Doesn't surprise me tbh, wish the guy nothing but good luck.

[Coco Bryce]

No wonder we've had no rumours on January signings :rolleyes:

[Chorley Hibee]

Getting out before he had to face up to further poor accounts being published.

That's my guess.

[Stuart93]

Hopefully a CEO hand picked by the BK’s is his replacement

[Centre Hawf]

Getting out before he had to face up to further poor accounts being published.

That's my guess.

Your guess is correct as far as I'm aware. I'm lead to believe they'll be a painful read.

[marinello59]

Good.

[HendoDelivered]

In the words of big John…. BOSH!

[SteveHFC]

Getting out before he had to face up to further poor accounts being published.

That's my guess.

Good riddance to the arrogant twat.

[Alex Trager]

Getting out before he had to face up to further poor accounts being published.

That's my guess.

This would also be my guess. Along with his mention of ‘game-changing’ with regards the BK’s last year, which has not materialised so far.

[big gogs]

Let’s hope this wasn’t delaying / distracting from any signings.

On the outside looking in,after the visit to las Vegas,having the face to face with bill foley,Ian Gordon was told he no longer had any input in player recruitment.now Ben kensell leaving.bill foley is taking control of the football side.or am I reading something that’s not there.a complete takeover in the offing.

[Lago]

He split opinions, he did some good and did some bad, we move on. :aok:
This

[ian cruise]

Out before the AGM. Clever.

Either that or he's going to take the fall at it and won't be there to defend himself.

There's been talk in here for months he was moving on, I'm not sure it's just because the accounts don't look great.

In my firm appointments at that level usually have a long notice period, often on gardening leave, as it gives time for a replacement to be found while the role is still covered. As we're now working ij a more corporate manner I'd imagine it will be similar and we won't be waiting too long for the new name to be announced.

[we are hibs]

Thoughts are with his hospitality mates

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[ginger_rice]

Hopefully he could return one day, maybe in a catering role?

[Centre Hawf]

There's been talk in here for months he was moving on, I'm not sure it's just because the accounts don't look great.

In my firm appointments at that level usually have a long notice period, often on gardening leave, as it gives time for a replacement to be found while the role is still covered. As we're now working ij a more corporate manner I'd imagine it will be similar and we won't be waiting too long for the new name to be announced.

He'll be moving on for probably a few reasons overall. But the accounts will be one of the big ones as to why he's left now before they're published.

[overdrive]

Has he been on gardening leave? Would explain the lack of leaks regarding transfers.

[mcohibs]

Maybe he could return one day, maybe in a catering role?

😂😂😂😂

[tug.lismore]

On the outside looking in,after the visit to las Vegas,having the face to face with bill foley,Ian Gordon was told he no longer had any input in player recruitment.now Ben kensell leaving.bill foley is taking control of the football side.or am I reading something that’s not there.a complete takeover in the offing.I think that you are spot on. Foley will have a big say in who the new CEO is and may even have someone lined up to take over. Potentially someone currently in the Black Knights setup.

Foley doesn't need full ownership to exert pretty much full control.

Whether that proves a good thing is not known but a bit of the success Bournemouth are having would be nice.

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[ChuckNor]

This is excellent news. Nearly every single decision made at the club has been wrong since his appointment. We’ve regressed so much. As people will soon find out his promises about the next set of accounts won’t transpire. He’s left a lot of damage for whoever comes in next to fix. A crucial appointment.

[Heedersnvolleys]

Malky next?

[Lago]

Malky & the invisible David next.

[leith lynx]

Just before the upcoming AGM, funny that, avoids him having to explain his non -truths to shareholders last time round

[Onceinawhile]

Is this enough for Block 7 to turn their sign back the right way? Hope not, cause we've been brilliant since they turned it upside down.

[ChuckNor]

Just before the upcoming AGM, funny that, avoids him having to explain his non -truths to shareholders last time round

You’ve nailed it.

[Just_Jimmy]

"At last, At last, At last, what kept you Hibs?"

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[gbhibby]

Wonder how Costa Coffee at Meadowbank will cope with this news.


I have only been in the place 4 times and each time Ben Kensell was there .

[Since452]

On the football side he's been an utter disaster. No loss.

[tonyrougier123]

Never fully took to Ben, I didn’t like the hauge and melkerson deal felt it was a very unprofessional way to do business behind a managers back for players not ready. A lot of money wasted on players that never got any chance or sustained first team action unnecessarily, I think that outstripped any marketing success he/we as a club have had. Can’t say a change in his position is a bad day.

[Greencore]

"At last, At last, At last, what kept you Hibs?"

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

😂

[1875er]

Has he been on gardening leave? Would explain the lack of leaks regarding transfers.

Surely if he was on Gardening Leave it would have been Leeks?

[Centre Hawf]

Never fully took to Ben, I didn’t like the hauge and melkerson deal felt it was a very unprofessional way to do business behind a managers back for players not ready. A lot of money wasted on players that never got any chance or sustained first team action unnecessarily, I think that outstripped any marketing success he/we as a club have had. Can’t say a change in his position is a bad day.


On the football side he's been an utter disaster. No loss.

I think I would remind people that there is a good chance that a lot of sporting related complaints about Ben Kensell are probably best pointed towards Ian Gordon.

[tug.lismore]

Wonder how Costa Coffee at Meadowbank will cope with this news.


I have only been in the place 4 times and each time Ben Kensell was there .I'm there regularly and have never seen him. Presumably he was more of a day time frequenter rather than evenings and weekends.

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[HoboHarry]

Can we not just wish the guy well and move on? I imagine the Black Knights have their hands on this so onwards and upwards hopefully.

[USA_Hibee]

Good luck Ben.

[Unseen work]

Wonder if it will be another promotion for someone within the Black Knights set up?

[tonyrougier123]

I think I would remind people that there is a good chance that a lot of sporting related complaints about Ben Kensell are probably best pointed towards Ian Gordon.

Certainly not hauge and melkerson, that was all him and he gladly took credit. Norwich connection if I mind right, I had a thread on the go back then.

[gbhibby]

I'm there regularly and have never seen him. Presumably he was more of a day time frequenter rather than evenings and weekends.

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Yes it was late morning/lunch time. Each time he was having a meeting with someone.

[joe breezy]

From his LinkedIn

“It’s with a real sense of pride, achievement and satisfaction that after over three and a half years leading this great club as CEO I am leaving Hibs on very good and amicable terms by mutual consent.

Simply put, I’ve done everything the club has asked me to do and more. I wish the inspiring Ron Gordon was here to see it and enjoy the highs and lows and successes we’ve achieved. The Gordon family are fantastic owners and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Together with the staff, players and support of sponsors, suppliers, corporate guests and the brilliant fanbase we have transformed the club off the pitch, doubling turnover with incredible, unrivalled commercial growth, building a fantastic staff culture across both HTC and Easter Road and improving the stadium and training ground so it’s unrecognisable from when I arrived in July 2021.
There was a clear strategic plan and it’s been delivered over this time.

Easter Road as a match day experience is best in class now and I take great pride in having delivered that and it generating the revenues and experiences it now does for everyone to enjoy.

Bringing Black Knight Football Group on board for a first of its kind investment and partnership in Scotland was also a big achievement which will benefit Hibs on the pitch for years to come and on top of this we have managed to achieve millions in player sales through my negotiations and I leave the club with the men’s and women’s team on fantastic form with brilliant management in place across all areas.

I wish we could have had more success on the pitch despite the semi finals and one Premier Sport cup final and the one season in Europe getting knocked out by Aston Villa but that’s football for you.
I have so much confidence that with the solid foundations now in place this club will go on to achieve great success because it deserves it.

Thank you to everyone for their hard work, efforts and support and there are too many to mention but I will forever be a Hibs supporter because it’s just a wonderful football club in a brilliant city with fantastic people at the heart of it. It was an absolute honour to lead Hibernian FC”


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[TheSouthMoroccan]

Without being in the corridors of power, it's hard to know whether he was genuinely any good or not. But from the outside looking in, irrespective of how good our big screens, disco lights and hospitality lounges are, the football side of things has been dire during his stewardship so he has to own that. And he came across as the cheese merchant's cheese merchant, so for that reason alone, this is probably very good news :wink:

[Centre Hawf]

Certainly not hauge and melkerson, that was all him and he gladly took credit. Norwich connection if I mind right, I had a thread on the go back then.

There have been a small amount that I'm lead to believe were moves he's had a hand in. They two weren't ones I had been told about and was lead to believe it was Ian Gordon that pursued them both.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Absolutely delighted with that. His LinkedIn statement and I’ve no doubt our upcoming accounts shows him up as the absolute liar that he is.

Hopefully a few more senior members at the club to depart in the near future.

[Trinity Hibee]

Was a gob ***** who made inappropriate comments about managers to fans.

[Alfiembra]

Wonder if it will be another promotion for someone within the Black Knights set up?

Or maybe another promotion from within. Big Daz for CEO :wink:

[Smartie]

Feels a bit weird for this to be happening when we have a team who are playing the way we'd want it to, after a long while.

I've always been sort of on the fence with Kensell - hated the loose lips, loved the growth in income, not liked many of the footballing decisions.

That said - I've always found it a bit challenging to comment on "stuff behind the scenes" as it's never clear to me what exactly anyone is responsible for, therefore when it's not working out, who exactly should be getting it in the neck? There's a bit of me has often thought that the likes of Kensell are often useful shields for those above, when they need to be.

[SaulGoodman]

From his LinkedIn

“It’s with a real sense of pride, achievement and satisfaction that after over three and a half years leading this great club as CEO I am leaving Hibs on very good and amicable terms by mutual consent.

Simply put, I’ve done everything the club has asked me to do and more. I wish the inspiring Ron Gordon was here to see it and enjoy the highs and lows and successes we’ve achieved. The Gordon family are fantastic owners and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Together with the staff, players and support of sponsors, suppliers, corporate guests and the brilliant fanbase we have transformed the club off the pitch, doubling turnover with incredible, unrivalled commercial growth, building a fantastic staff culture across both HTC and Easter Road and improving the stadium and training ground so it’s unrecognisable from when I arrived in July 2021.
There was a clear strategic plan and it’s been delivered over this time.

Easter Road as a match day experience is best in class now and I take great pride in having delivered that and it generating the revenues and experiences it now does for everyone to enjoy.

Bringing Black Knight Football Group on board for a first of its kind investment and partnership in Scotland was also a big achievement which will benefit Hibs on the pitch for years to come and on top of this we have managed to achieve millions in player sales through my negotiations and I leave the club with the men’s and women’s team on fantastic form with brilliant management in place across all areas.

I wish we could have had more success on the pitch despite the semi finals and one Premier Sport cup final and the one season in Europe getting knocked out by Aston Villa but that’s football for you.
I have so much confidence that with the solid foundations now in place this club will go on to achieve great success because it deserves it.

Thank you to everyone for their hard work, efforts and support and there are too many to mention but I will forever be a Hibs supporter because it’s just a wonderful football club in a brilliant city with fantastic people at the heart of it. It was an absolute honour to lead Hibernian FC”


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Just shows if you big yourself up and spout enough bs you can go far in life

[SonOfDavidFrancey]

Accounts maybe or taking the fall for appointing Malky and SDG contrary to BK instructions?

[Pretty Boy]

Mutual consent is cold.

[Edinburgh Green]

Wonder if the Block 7 banner will be rotated 90 degrees back the right way?

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

This is devastating news……..for Tantastic.

[TelaStella]

Good. Great even. The last 2 months have bought this guy nothing, his time here has been a disaster for the club. Onwards and upwards for us from here on, I’m feeling optimistic.


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[SaulGoodman]

Wonder if the Block 7 banner will be rotated 90 degrees back the right way?

The people in the seats behind might not be too happy if they do that

[7Hero]

Club can't afford to lose this much money each year so a new CEO will have to rectify that, and that is ultimately why he has been relieved of his job (by mutual consent).

[BoomtownHibees]

wonder if the block 7 banner will be rotated 90 degrees back the right way?

b
l
o
c
k

7

[tonyrougier123]

There have been a small amount that I'm lead to believe were moves he's had a hand in. They two weren't ones I had been told about and was lead to believe it was Ian Gordon that pursued them both.

Take it from me, 100% behind hauge and melkerson. It was well documented by media and himself. Those were his signings.

[evy]

Wonder if the Block 7 banner will be rotated 90 degrees back the right way?

Who needs to go for it to go the full 180?

[Unseen work]

From his LinkedIn

“It’s with a real sense of pride, achievement and satisfaction that after over three and a half years leading this great club as CEO I am leaving Hibs on very good and amicable terms by mutual consent.

Simply put, I’ve done everything the club has asked me to do and more. I wish the inspiring Ron Gordon was here to see it and enjoy the highs and lows and successes we’ve achieved. The Gordon family are fantastic owners and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Together with the staff, players and support of sponsors, suppliers, corporate guests and the brilliant fanbase we have transformed the club off the pitch, doubling turnover with incredible, unrivalled commercial growth, building a fantastic staff culture across both HTC and Easter Road and improving the stadium and training ground so it’s unrecognisable from when I arrived in July 2021.
There was a clear strategic plan and it’s been delivered over this time.

Easter Road as a match day experience is best in class now and I take great pride in having delivered that and it generating the revenues and experiences it now does for everyone to enjoy.

Bringing Black Knight Football Group on board for a first of its kind investment and partnership in Scotland was also a big achievement which will benefit Hibs on the pitch for years to come and on top of this we have managed to achieve millions in player sales through my negotiations and I leave the club with the men’s and women’s team on fantastic form with brilliant management in place across all areas.

I wish we could have had more success on the pitch despite the semi finals and one Premier Sport cup final and the one season in Europe getting knocked out by Aston Villa but that’s football for you.
I have so much confidence that with the solid foundations now in place this club will go on to achieve great success because it deserves it.

Thank you to everyone for their hard work, efforts and support and there are too many to mention but I will forever be a Hibs supporter because it’s just a wonderful football club in a brilliant city with fantastic people at the heart of it. It was an absolute honour to lead Hibernian FC”


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That guy sounds quite good, we should approach him for the role

[Centre Hawf]

Take it from me, 100% behind hauge and melkerson. It was well documented by media and himself. Those were his signings.

May have to agree to disagree as I’ve heard the opposite on they two specifically. Some of the ones I was aware he had a hand in were the likes of Nathan Wood, Rocky, Kenneh etc. Guys predominantly English based.

[Paulie Walnuts]

May have to agree to disagree as I’ve heard the opposite on they two specifically. Some of the ones I was aware he had a hand in were the likes of Nathan Wood, Rocky, Kenneh etc. Guys predominantly English based.

He’d have known Rocky from his time at Norwich you’d have to think.

[worcesterhibby]

Did a great job on some fronts and a poor job on others. Good time to leave.. thanks for the big improvement in commercial sponsorship, overseeing the ground improvements and getting the Black Knights onboard. Now let’s bring in a CEO who will bring us onfield success consistently.

be fascinating to know how much input the Black Knights will have in his replacement.

[Unseen work]

From the Observer;

While the recruitment process for a new CEO is conducted, the Scottish Premiership side will be led by the board of directors, with the senior management team - including the likes of sporting director Malky Mackay and financial director Philippa Lombardi - overseeing day-to-day operations.

Tim Bezbatchenko, as president of the Black Knights, will be involved in the recruitment process as the group's representative on the ground and the departure of Kensell will have no impact on the remainder of the January transfer window.

[gordie18]

Surely if he was on Gardening Leave it would have been Leeks?

He’s been headhunted by a Welsh club and he’s taken them with him


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[Hibiza]

Goodbye Ben . All the best in your probably lined up appointment.

[tonyrougier123]

May have to agree to disagree as I’ve heard the opposite on they two specifically. Some of the ones I was aware he had a hand in were the likes of Nathan Wood, Rocky, Kenneh etc. Guys predominantly English based.

https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/elias-melkersens-hibs-transfer-aided-22708197.amp

100% he also took credit for it when it happened, can’t be bothered trawling but this was top link.

[jeffers]

Mutual consent is cold.

Don’t believe it is.

Arguably one of the two most important periods for a football club and we decide it’s the right time to mutually consent our CEO….🤔

[worcesterhibby]

From his LinkedIn

“It’s with a real sense of pride, achievement and satisfaction that after over three and a half years leading this great club as CEO I am leaving Hibs on very good and amicable terms by mutual consent.

Simply put, I’ve done everything the club has asked me to do and more. I wish the inspiring Ron Gordon was here to see it and enjoy the highs and lows and successes we’ve achieved. The Gordon family are fantastic owners and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Together with the staff, players and support of sponsors, suppliers, corporate guests and the brilliant fanbase we have transformed the club off the pitch, doubling turnover with incredible, unrivalled commercial growth, building a fantastic staff culture across both HTC and Easter Road and improving the stadium and training ground so it’s unrecognisable from when I arrived in July 2021.
There was a clear strategic plan and it’s been delivered over this time.

Easter Road as a match day experience is best in class now and I take great pride in having delivered that and it generating the revenues and experiences it now does for everyone to enjoy.

Bringing Black Knight Football Group on board for a first of its kind investment and partnership in Scotland was also a big achievement which will benefit Hibs on the pitch for years to come and on top of this we have managed to achieve millions in player sales through my negotiations and I leave the club with the men’s and women’s team on fantastic form with brilliant management in place across all areas.

I wish we could have had more success on the pitch despite the semi finals and one Premier Sport cup final and the one season in Europe getting knocked out by Aston Villa but that’s football for you.
I have so much confidence that with the solid foundations now in place this club will go on to achieve great success because it deserves it.

Thank you to everyone for their hard work, efforts and support and there are too many to mention but I will forever be a Hibs supporter because it’s just a wonderful football club in a brilliant city with fantastic people at the heart of it. It was an absolute honour to lead Hibernian FC”


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I don’t begrudge him his “sell” on Linkdn, the only thing I would really take issue with is the idea that Easter Road is “unrecognisable from when ai arrived in July 2021” … I mean, its a bloody great green football stadium, I can hardly see someone walking down Albion Road having to ask directions because they didn’t recognise it! :greengrin

[Hibs90]

From his LinkedIn

“It’s with a real sense of pride, achievement and satisfaction that after over three and a half years leading this great club as CEO I am leaving Hibs on very good and amicable terms by mutual consent.

Simply put, I’ve done everything the club has asked me to do and more. I wish the inspiring Ron Gordon was here to see it and enjoy the highs and lows and successes we’ve achieved. The Gordon family are fantastic owners and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Together with the staff, players and support of sponsors, suppliers, corporate guests and the brilliant fanbase we have transformed the club off the pitch, doubling turnover with incredible, unrivalled commercial growth, building a fantastic staff culture across both HTC and Easter Road and improving the stadium and training ground so it’s unrecognisable from when I arrived in July 2021.
There was a clear strategic plan and it’s been delivered over this time.

Easter Road as a match day experience is best in class now and I take great pride in having delivered that and it generating the revenues and experiences it now does for everyone to enjoy.

Bringing Black Knight Football Group on board for a first of its kind investment and partnership in Scotland was also a big achievement which will benefit Hibs on the pitch for years to come and on top of this we have managed to achieve millions in player sales through my negotiations and I leave the club with the men’s and women’s team on fantastic form with brilliant management in place across all areas.

I wish we could have had more success on the pitch despite the semi finals and one Premier Sport cup final and the one season in Europe getting knocked out by Aston Villa but that’s football for you.
I have so much confidence that with the solid foundations now in place this club will go on to achieve great success because it deserves it.

Thank you to everyone for their hard work, efforts and support and there are too many to mention but I will forever be a Hibs supporter because it’s just a wonderful football club in a brilliant city with fantastic people at the heart of it. It was an absolute honour to lead Hibernian FC”


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I wasn't going to bother commenting on this thread, I've made my feelings clear on the job he's done pretty clearly over the last while but I had to after I saw this. I could and might just pick this statement apart piece by piece.

Very much trying to save face here for his own future employment.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Don’t believe it is.

Arguably one of the two most important periods for a football club and we decide it’s the right time to mutually consent our CEO….🤔

I did think the timing was bizarre but not going to complain if it means seeing the back of him.

[we are hibs]

Can anyone find the thread that a poster put up a few months back saying major changes were happening?

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[worcesterhibby]

Take it from me, 100% behind hauge and melkerson. It was well documented by media and himself. Those were his signings.

we made a profit on Melkerson. Might not have worked out on the pitch but it was positive financially. I’m sure that will have offset anything we lost on Hauge.

[PatHead]

I wasn't going to bother commenting on this thread, I've made my feelings clear on the job he's done pretty clearly over the last while but I had to after I saw this. I could and might just pick this statement apart piece by piece.

Very much trying to save face here for his own future employment.

What did you expect him to say? I was punted because I was ****.

[.Sean.]

Cheerio slimeball

[Hibs90]

What did you expect him to say? I was punted because I was ****.

You say nothing.

[worcesterhibby]

I wasn't going to bother commenting on this thread, I've made my feelings clear on the job he's done pretty clearly over the last while but I had to after I saw this. I could and might just pick this statement apart piece by piece.

Very much trying to save face here for his own future employment.

don’t bother.. he’s gone.. let it go. What do you expect t him to put on his Linkdn ?

[Paulie Walnuts]

You say nothing.

:agree:

Or at least you say very little. You don’t post a ridiculous load of pish like that.

[Centre Hawf]

https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/elias-melkersens-hibs-transfer-aided-22708197.amp

100% he also took credit for it when it happened, can’t be bothered trawling but this was top link.

I’m aware of what’s out there in the media. I’m just saying from what I’ve been from people who have been right on things before is that Ian did more of the identifying in these scenarios. Ben was the negotiator.

[worcesterhibby]

You say nothing.

As you have nearly 15,000 posts that’s just a wee bit rich! :greengrin

[PatHead]

:agree:

Or at least you say very little. You don’t post a ridiculous load of pish like that.

He probably believes everything he has said.

[cabbageandribs1875]

I think I would remind people that there is a good chance that a lot of sporting related complaints about Ben Kensell are probably best pointed towards Ian Gordon.


this :agree:

[Hibs90]

As you have nearly 15,000 posts that’s just a wee bit rich! :greengrin

I'd probably argue most of those 15000 are saying nothing :greengrin

[worcesterhibby]

I'd probably argue most of those 15000 are saying nothing :greengrin

:thumbsup:

[cabbageandribs1875]

Can we not just wish the guy well and move on? I imagine the Black Knights have their hands on this so onwards and upwards hopefully.


and this :agree:

[Fifth Amendmen]

Was a gob ***** who made inappropriate comments about managers to fans.


Remember him pressing the flesh with fans in Lucerne trying to one of the boys absolute bellend.

[jeffers]

I did think the timing was bizarre but not going to complain if it means seeing the back of him.

I’m neither here nor there with him. I certainly don’t believe he’s the devil he’s been painted out to be. Whether folk want to give him credit for turnaround in revenue and hospitality after the mess LD left us with that’s for them to decide. He was also key in securing the BKG tie up.

As I said earlier the key decision now is who replaces him.

[Paulie Walnuts]

He probably believes everything he has said.

I don’t doubt that :agree:

[Chorley Hibee]

I heard a rumour from Motherwell supporting friends, who know Alan Burrows personally, that he wishes to move back to the central belt.

His wife and daughter still live in Motherwell and his daughter attends the same school as my daughter.

A possibility?

[Bridge hibs]

Remember him pressing the flesh with fans in Lucerne trying to one of the boys absolute bellend.

Is that not allowed ?

[Edinburgh Green]

Who needs to go for it to go the full 180?

I’m guessing, Malky?

[Paulie Walnuts]

I heard a rumour from Motherwell supporting friends, who know Alan Burrows personally, that he wishes to move back to the central belt.

His wife and daughter still live in Motherwell and his daughter attends the same school as my daughter.

A possibility?

It’s been mentioned previously on here.

Ultimately, we would see him almost double his salary and get to move back down the road on the presumption we’re going to give someone roughly what Kensell was getting. It would be a no brainer for him.

[Billy Whizz]

I’m guessing, Malky?

Which Malky are you referring too

[.Sean.]

I heard a rumour from Motherwell supporting friends, who know Alan Burrows personally, that he wishes to move back to the central belt.

His wife and daughter still live in Motherwell and his daughter attends the same school as my daughter.

A possibility?
This has been suggested on here previously

[Renfrew_Hibby]

I heard a rumour from Motherwell supporting friends, who know Alan Burrows personally, that he wishes to move back to the central belt.

His wife and daughter still live in Motherwell and his daughter attends the same school as my daughter.

A possibility?

Has he achieved at Aberdeen to the levels he was making at Motherwell?

[Centre Hawf]

Has he achieved at Aberdeen to the levels he was making at Motherwell?

I've never taken to the idea of Burrows at Hibs personally.

[matty_f]

Imagine if Ian Gordon stepped up.

[WhileTheChief..]

Can we not just wish the guy well and move on? I imagine the Black Knights have their hands on this so onwards and upwards hopefully.

You can if you want.

I'm not going to wish the guy well when I think he was doing massive damage to our club.

We're allowed our own thoughts, and going by this thread most of us are glad he's away.

[Cabbage-Patch]

So is the golden quadrant now more of a copper triangle?

[Chorley Hibee]

Imagine if Ian Gordon stepped up.

Just don't. 🙈🤣

[matty_f]

Just don't. 🙈🤣

😂

[Hibiza]

Who made the decision ?

[Pretty Boy]

Accounts must be due very soon. Not convinced the timing of this announcement is a total coincidence.

For all the lauding of his 'commercial success' our losses were bordering on unsustainable in the medium to long term. There were big promises things would look a lot better this year. If the accounts don't reflect that it's no surprise someone had to go.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Accounts must be due very soon. Not convinced the timing of this announcement is a total coincidence.

For all the lauding of his 'commercial success' our losses were bordering on unsustainable in the long term. There were big promises things would look a lot better this year. If the accounts don't reflect that it's no surprise someone had to go.

:agree:

Thing is I’m sure when he made his promises the financial period that the accounts are going to be for had passed. So whilst you may be able to argue he wouldn’t have firm figures, he’d have known roughly what they’d be like.

If it turns out they’re bad again then I think we can put to bed the idea that he done a good job on the commercial side.

[Chorley Hibee]

Has he achieved at Aberdeen to the levels he was making at Motherwell?

Where I think the idea falls apart is that I'm led to believe that Burrows hasn't taken kindly to interference from Cormack etc.

He's not exactly going to settle here with Ian Gordon sticking his oar in.

[tonyrougier123]

we made a profit on Melkerson. Might not have worked out on the pitch but it was positive financially. I’m sure that will have offset anything we lost on Hauge.

I’d rather we just just supported the football coach/manager and give him what he needs in any given window, it was still a huge outlay that we never seen any benefit from on the park, if we continue doing business like that we will never achieve on the park surely, we could’ve signed some first team ready talent showcased them at Easter road benefited on the park then sold on. Don’t think he can claim it’s a win all round on that front. Small mercy it was supposedly not a loss.

[I'm_cabbaged]

You say nothing.

Or he wanted to go back down south to his wife and kids?

[we are hibs]

Fingers crossed this is just the start and bigger changes are on the way.

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[CentreLine]

I think I would remind people that there is a good chance that a lot of sporting related complaints about Ben Kensell are probably best pointed towards Ian Gordon.

Absolutely agree. BK has received a lot of flack for something that was not his side of the business. Luckily IG has said the Gordons will cover any losses but it seems to me he is responsible for those losses. Off the park we made money. It’s all very fashionable to spread the blame to “the board”.
I expect BK will turn up at an EPL club and do another great job. In fact, I’d go so far alas to say he seems to be well thought of by the BKGroup and I would not be at all surprised if Bill Foley finds a role fur him.

Wherever he goes we should wish him well and hope he and his family n stop receiving abuse.

[WestCoastHibby]

Got to be a positive this; can’t say I know too much about the goings on but haven’t seen much support for him.
Malky next? He’s another one as visible as a fart in the fog

[tonyrougier123]

Imagine if Ian Gordon stepped up.

No!

[Richibee]

BK leaving may well have something to do with forthcoming Accounts. However, the financial situation at the Club is not down to one person (despite BK trying to take all the credit!). All of the board are responsible and if indeed the Accounts are poor then the majority involved are still going to be around.

[007]

Imagine if Ian Gordon stepped up.

Or maybe Andrew McKinlay. 🤔

I seem to recall someone posting that Kensall was getting about the same as McKinlay and Burrows at Aberdeen combined. I'm sure we could tempt him away with a few extra quid plus some additional incentives. 😀

https://i.ibb.co/qYwmsJM/Mrs-Wicks-Pies-72d95a76-207e-4293-93fc-038f15fd3b45.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)

[SHODAN]

Best transfer window ever.

[TrinityHFC]

This has been suggested on here previously

Yep. Also have connections and can confirm. Not sure of this timescale but he wants the Hibs job at some point.

[Dashing Bob S]

Missing him already

[Hibiza]

A small variation to the Lyrics of " Old red eyes " Beautiful South . " Every tan parlour in the district cried " .

[chrisski33]

Only ones crying about his departure will be his wee pals in the Ultras

[jeffers]

:agree:

Thing is I’m sure when he made his promises the financial period that the accounts are going to be for had passed. So whilst you may be able to argue he wouldn’t have firm figures, he’d have known roughly what they’d be like.

If it turns out they’re bad again then I think we can put to bed the idea that he done a good job on the commercial side.

We’ve not released our accounts yet for the period he was discussing have we ?

Probably comes across as me zealously defending him, but I’m not. I believe when he made the predictions albeit certain assumptions were being made the expectation was that we would post excellent results. Our piss poor season had a big impact on that.

[Paulie Walnuts]

We’ve not released our accounts yet for the period he was discussing have we ?

Probably comes across as me zealously defending him, but I’m not. I believe when he made the predictions albeit certain assumptions were being made the expectation was that we would post excellent results. Our piss poor season had a big impact on that.

We’ve not yet, we’re due to soon though.

As I said, it’s an if when I say it, but IF they’re bad again, there’s not a chance in hell he didn’t know they were going to be at the time he was promising they were going to be much better. If he didn’t know then he’s an even worse CEO than anyone could have imagined.

[I'm_cabbaged]

Only ones crying about his departure will be his wee pals in the Ultras

I wouldn’t think so

[CropleyWasGod]

We’ve not released our accounts yet for the period he was discussing have we ?

Probably comes across as me zealously defending him, but I’m not. I believe when he made the predictions albeit certain assumptions were being made the expectation was that we would post excellent results. Our piss poor season had a big impact on that.


We’ve not yet, we’re due to soon though.

As I said, it’s an if when I say it, but IF they’re bad again, there’s not a chance in hell he didn’t know they were going to be at the time he was promising they were going to be much better. If he didn’t know then he’s an even worse CEO than anyone could have imagined.

To be fair to him (can't believe I'm saying that :greengrin) he said that at a time when we'd been having an okayish season. We'd had a wee run in Europe, and his proclamation of us being a "£15m turnover club" wasn't too outlandish. However, it was based on the assumption that we would be Top 6. How much it cost us not to do so in terms of gate receipts and prize money will come out in the wash, but that is probably one of the drivers for the second share issue last year.

[jeffers]

[QUOTE=Paulie Walnuts;7874693]We’ve not yet, we’re due to soon though.

As I said, it’s an if when I say it, but IF they’re bad again, there’s not a chance in hell he didn’t know they were going to be at the time he was promising they were going to be much better. If he didn’t know then he’s an even worse CEO than anyone could have imagined.[/QUOTE

I’d be lying if I said I knew the ins and outs regarding what actually happened between when he made the comments and when our year end was. The little I have heard though was the expectation at the time of our AGM was that our accounts would be much better. That wasn’t just BK who believed that.

[Paulie Walnuts]

To be fair to him (can't believe I'm saying that :greengrin) he said that at a time when we'd been having an okayish season. We'd had a wee run in Europe, and his proclamation of us being a "£15m turnover club" wasn't too outlandish. However, it was based on the assumption that we would be Top 6. How much it cost us not to do so in terms of gate receipts and prize money will come out in the wash, but that is probably one of the drivers for the second share issue last year.

Do you recall exactly when it was said? I’m fairly certain it was at the AGM and that would have been the majority of the way through the financial period were about to see the results for.

There was absolutely no point last season where you could argue we looked likely to be top 6. At best it was in the balance. If he was insistent there was to be massively improved accounts on the basis of something that could go either way coming true then the guys an idiot. If as Jeffers says he’s not the only one that believed it I’d be intrigued to know how much of that belief that others had stemmed from what Kensell was telling them..

[superfurryhibby]

On the outside looking in,after the visit to las Vegas,having the face to face with bill foley,Ian Gordon was told he no longer had any input in player recruitment.now Ben kensell leaving.bill foley is taking control of the football side.or am I reading something that’s not there.a complete takeover in the offing.

At a loss as to why you would imagine the 25% shareholder is telling the majority shareholder what powers and authority they can exercise in a business they still effectively own?

Kensell will be replaced soon enough and it will be with someone acceptable to the BK's and to the Gordon's.

Rumours of other departures at senior boardroom level, the appointment of Garvan Stewart, there are changes afoot at Hibs but the Gordon's still wield control.....for the time being at least.

[Donegal Hibby]

Was a gob ***** who made inappropriate comments about managers to fans.

This … thought it was low and totally unprofessional. Not sorry to see him go because of it ! .

[CropleyWasGod]

Do you recall exactly when it was said?

There was absolutely no point last season where you could argue we looked likely to be top 6. At best it was in the balance. If he’s insistent there’ll be massively improved accounts on the basis of something that could go either way coming true then the guys an idiot. If as Jeffers says he’s not the only one that believed it I’d be intrigued to know how much of that belief that others had stemmed from what Kensell was telling them..

I can't, sorry.

IIRC, it wasn't a formal quote, more one of those that he'd said to "someone" at "some do"..... you know the kind of loose-lipped thing he was allegedly fond of doing.

At the time, I wasn't too surprised by it. Maybe I was more confident of a top 6 finish than I should have been :greengrin

That said, I'm always wary of those who rely on turnover as "the" measure of success. They are usually sales people (no disrespect to the sales people on this board , by the way ), and Ben was certainly one of those. Maybe we are a "£15m company" (and his leaving statement does claim that we have doubled our turnover in his time), but there is more to a successful company, in any business, than just the top line.

[Tambo]

Unexpected this news, was thinking maybe the end of the season.

Done well off the pitch and probably took a lot of abuse online and in public.

Don't wish him any harm, good luck in your next job.

[Baldy Foghorn]

I can't, sorry.

IIRC, it wasn't a formal quote, more one of those that he'd said to "someone" at "some do"..... you know the kind of loose-lipped thing he was allegedly fond of doing.

At the time, I wasn't too surprised by it. Maybe I was more confident of a top 6 finish than I should have been :greengrin

That said, I'm always wary of those who rely on turnover as "the" measure of success. They are usually sales people (no disrespect to the sales people on this board , by the way ), and Ben was certainly one of those. Maybe we are a "£15m company" (and his leaving statement does claim that we have doubled our turnover in his time), but there is more to a successful company, in any business, than just the top line.

He said in an Interview with SKY that financial results would be better. (Sure it was Luke who interviewed him).

[Jones28]

Zero emotion from me. Didn’t think he was a particularly bad CEO but his cosying up to Block 7 and continuous leaking was cringey AF.

Good stuff done off the field but his transfer policies have been disastrous.

Interesting he was mutually consented in the run up to an AGM, bad news on the horizon?

[Onion]

Deserves credit for turbo-boosting Hibs commercial operations, but didn't appear to know his own limitations or able to manage the footballing side of the club. Oversaw a wretched period of waste and deterioration. Fingers crossed for better replacement.

[Northernhibee]

I can't, sorry.

IIRC, it wasn't a formal quote, more one of those that he'd said to "someone" at "some do"..... you know the kind of loose-lipped thing he was allegedly fond of doing.

At the time, I wasn't too surprised by it. Maybe I was more confident of a top 6 finish than I should have been :greengrin

That said, I'm always wary of those who rely on turnover as "the" measure of success. They are usually sales people (no disrespect to the sales people on this board , by the way ), and Ben was certainly one of those. Maybe we are a "£15m company" (and his leaving statement does claim that we have doubled our turnover in his time), but there is more to a successful company, in any business, than just the top line.

Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity.

[Keith_M]

Only ones crying about his departure will be his wee pals in the Ultras


Nah, they had a lovers tiff a while back and Block 7¾ have been having a hissy fit about it ever since.

[SHODAN]

Only ones crying about his departure will be his wee pals in the Ultras

That's them lost their protection now.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Deserves credit for turbo-boosting Hibs commercial operations, but didn't appear to know his own limitations or able to manage the footballing side of the club. Oversaw a wretched period of waste and deterioration. Fingers crossed for better replacement.

I’m not sure he deserves credit if the increase in turnover has lead to successive years of substantial losses and being propped up by external funding.

Anyone can increase turnover if they don’t have to consider the money they’re losing.

[Smartie]

Do you recall exactly when it was said? I’m fairly certain it was at the AGM and that would have been the majority of the way through the financial period were about to see the results for.

There was absolutely no point last season where you could argue we looked likely to be top 6. At best it was in the balance. If he was insistent there was to be massively improved accounts on the basis of something that could go either way coming true then the guys an idiot. If as Jeffers says he’s not the only one that believed it I’d be intrigued to know how much of that belief that others had stemmed from what Kensell was telling them..

Were we not a few minutes into injury time in the last game before the split and looking likely to get top 6?

A late equaliser at Fir Park put paid to that, unexpected results later going against us meaning it didn’t happen.

Not that I really want to defend the pishness of last season. “At a certain point we looked likely to get top 6” isn’t really a defence that things were going well enough.

[Smartie]

Don’t believe it is.

Arguably one of the two most important periods for a football club and we decide it’s the right time to mutually consent our CEO….🤔

Interesting point re timing.

LJ punted after a season started with a few weeks of the window still to go.

We don’t do ourselves favours with this sort of stuff imo.

[Exuberance1875]

A truly fantastic day for us, guy was a complete and utter throbber and the further away from Easter Road he is the better.

[SickBoy32]

Best news we’ve had coming out the club in years 👍

[Hibees1973]

Did some decent work, but completely overshadowed by some monumental gaffes.

"Accounts will look much better next year'

'Trust the Process'

'Game changing deal'

These are just three quotes from Kensell which were completely unprofessional. I also have it on good authority as well that he did divulge team selections to supporters prior to games. Astonishing.

I still have serious misgivings on his and Ian Gordon's role in selling 25% of the club to Black Knight Group. Time will tell if this was wrong, but up until now we have seen little benefit. Maybe it's starting now, who knows, but it was unsightly for the club the spat with Foley. Kensell did bring in some money through better marketing of the club, however some of these partnership/sponsorship companies are highly inappropriate.

Some give him credit for the big screens/hospitality. But in the end he was just spending The Gordon family money.

[The Modfather]

Hopefully our CEO search isn’t restricted to, must know Scottish football, must be free and ideally we can appoint from within.

Let the Black knights appoint the new CEO and gain more power and influence.

[Bostonhibby]

Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity.[emoji106]

Interested in seeing our actual nett results at the next, what seems like overdue, AGM. Am thinking the CEO's recent uncharacteristic lower profile might be a factor, as well as protecting the value of any pay off plus pension contributions.

Turnover is cheaply won if you decide that's all that matters, not too difficult to extract a great personal package out of a billion pound turnover business that eventually loses even more billions. Profit and brand image and integrity is much harder to achieve.

I never wanted Hibs to be good at what folk seem to be giving him credit for, I can get those experiences at good pub chains, we ended up significantly worse at football during his tenure, a bit bloated off the field and SDG bought them a bit more time with the fans than they deserved.


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[Chorley Hibee]

See, the thing is, you saying you have on good authority makes me not believe the claim.

I was in the pub in Lucerne where he brazenly paraded around the pub telling folk the team.

It wasn't the only time either.

[The Spaceman]

Mixed feelings on this. Clearly a commercially intelligent man who, with the backing of the Gordon family, has overseen significant investment in improvements to Easter Road and HTC, a huge overhaul in the club’s commercial offering and ultimately secured Black Knight Group which I’m sure will benefit us in the medium-long term. A decent list of achievements in my book which leaves a really good platform for a new CEO to build from.

Of course, the footballing side has been a let-down, but I know Aberdeen and Hearts fans feel the same way or worse about their respective clubs (Sevco too) so it’s not easy.

Good luck to the guy, thanks for your service, onwards and upwards Hibernian.

[Baldy Foghorn]

Youan reposting the Kensell away in his Instagram stories. Bit weird that.

Edit: actually, just noticed the ‘💚🫡’

Also EY said "Respect and all the best man"

[JohnM1875]

Also EY said "Respect and all the best man"

Aye, deleted my post, absolutely nothing in it at all! Just a goodbye message. Rocky done the same.

[Unseen work]

Rocky also posting a nice message

[Hibees1973]

See, the thing is, you saying you have on good authority makes me not believe the claim.

See Chorley Hibee.

[Hibee Daft]

Think he did alot of good things for the club especially at a difficult time.


Hope him all the best... I do think though it is good news though that he has left.

[Alex Trager]

See, the thing is, you saying you have on good authority makes me not believe the claim.

He told my pals in Switzerland the team when I was away to the toilet.

Fwiw, I am delighted he has gone. In his time here the team has regressed at a rate of knots, whether that is Kensell’s fault or not we may never know. He could have stood up to decisions being made. Indeed he could have washed his hands of the whole thing.

Having spoken to him a few times he came across insincere, shirked responsibility for any failings at the club and always wanted folk to know that X was his idea.

I have serious doubts over his claims this incoming balance sheet will look good.
I also have doubts over the ‘game changing’ BKFC deal he helped broker. So far it’s been pretty much a nothing, and he helped broker it which reduces my trust in it.

I wish him no ill will. Any personal abuse he or his family have had is unacceptable.

As for the ‘match day experience’ being miles better than when he came, interested to know who he means by that because it’s certainly not the average punter who doesn’t have X amount to get into bars and pay £7 for a pint.

I can’t imagine in 10 years time we will look back at his period at the club and say ‘that was a great time’.

We deserve better.

Onward.

[Baldy Foghorn]

Aye, deleted my post, absolutely nothing in it at all! Just a goodbye message. Rocky done the same.

:aok:

[Bostonhibby]

Rumours of a reported £7m loss about to be reported? Maybe just chat but how much of a commercial success is that at the end of it all?

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[Hibees1973]

He told my pals in Switzerland the team when I was away to the toilet.

Kensell told one of my pals in Switzerland the team when he was in the toilet.

[Pedantic_Hibee]

He told my pals in Switzerland the team when I was away to the toilet.

He never told me the team in Switzerland, which I’m absolutely fuming about.

To be fair, I wasn’t actually there but that’s besides the point.

[Pedantic_Hibee]

Kensell told one of my pals in Switzerland the team when he was in the toilet.

Was your pal on a day’s annual leave or was it time in loo…?

[Kato]

At a loss as to why you would imagine the 25% shareholder is telling the majority shareholder what powers and authority they can exercise in a business they still effectively own?

Kensell will be replaced soon enough and it will be with someone acceptable to the BK's and to the Gordon's.

Rumours of other departures at senior boardroom level, the appointment of Garvan Stewart, there are changes afoot at Hibs but the Gordon's still wield control.....for the time being at least.A collaboration. Not unusual in business.

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[Bostonhibby]

He never told me the team in Switzerland, which I’m absolutely fuming about.

To be fair, I wasn’t actually there but that’s besides the point.I've recently been given a Toblerone which I thought was pretty impressive as Ive never been to Switzerland.

If anyone wants to give me a quid for it will I be a commercial success even if Hibs get relegated?

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[Hibs90]

Rumours of a reported £7m loss about to be reported? Maybe just chat but how much of a commercial success is that at the end of it all?

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Where are these rumours?

I find that incredibly hard to believe.

[Hibees1973]

Was your pal on a day’s annual leave or was it time in loo…?

:greengrin

[Bostonhibby]

Where are these rumours?

I find that incredibly hard to believe.Facebook, comments on Hibs own site, literally could be anyone commenting

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[Lendo]

Wow! Just goes to show the power an upside down banner can have.

[Bostonhibby]

Wow! Just goes to show the power an upside down banner can have.Now that he's free of his directors responsibilities surely he will be able to get masked up and spend more time with his pals? maybe a drum and tambourine combination.

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[JohnM1875]

Rumours of a reported £7m loss about to be reported? Maybe just chat but how much of a commercial success is that at the end of it all?

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Not even sure how that could be possible. Absolutely mental if true.

[Hibs90]

Facebook, comments on Hibs own site, literally could be anyone commenting

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I see the comment you mean.

Would file it under 'load of *****' personally. Just someone stirring ****.

I'd be astonished if that turned out to be true, because if it was he should have been punted a long time ago.

[Bostonhibby]

Not even sure how that could be possible. Absolutely mental if true.Just putting up what could be a nonsensical rumour. The all important turnover was certainly up, counterbalance is how much money we've spent and what it's been spent on.

Fair chunk on expensive duds, bars and paying off managers?

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[Bostonhibby]

I see the comment you mean.

Would file it under 'load of *****' personally. Just someone stirring ****.

I'd be astonished if that turned out to be true, because if it was he should have been punted a long time ago.[emoji106]

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[Baldy Foghorn]

Rumours of a reported £7m loss about to be reported? Maybe just chat but how much of a commercial success is that at the end of it all?

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Not sure how anyone would know figures, unless involved at Board level, or a Finance person at Hibs, or an external auditor, and don't think they would be discussing specifics so openly. I can see a rather big loss, but would be appalled if £7m

[Bostonhibby]

Not sure how anyone would know figures, unless involved at Board level, or a Finance person at Hibs, or an external auditor, and don't think they would be discussing specifics so openly. I can see a rather big loss, but would be appalled if £7mWe apparently had an indiscreet CEO so a leaky board member isn't much of a leap from there, who knows.

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[Baldy Foghorn]

We apparently had an indiscreet CEO so a leaky board member isn't much of a leap from there, who knows.

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:aok:

[Bridge hibs]

Not sure how anyone would know figures, unless involved at Board level, or a Finance person at Hibs, or an external auditor, and don't think they would be discussing specifics so openly. I can see a rather big loss, but would be appalled if £7m

Ben told my mate who was in the bogs

[Johnny_Leith]

RIP golden quadrant

[SaulGoodman]

RIP golden quadrant

Down to the Tungsten Triangle now

[Paulie Walnuts]

Were we not a few minutes into injury time in the last game before the split and looking likely to get top 6?

A late equaliser at Fir Park put paid to that, unexpected results later going against us meaning it didn’t happen.

Not that I really want to defend the pishness of last season. “At a certain point we looked likely to get top 6” isn’t really a defence that things were going well enough.

We were, but we were never at any point likely enough to get top 6 that our CEO should have been discussing these excellent accounts as if it was a certainty we were getting there, unless he was discussing it with a few mins to go at Fir Park before the equaliser of course.

[Hibiza]

From his LinkedIn

“It’s with a real sense of pride, achievement and satisfaction that after over three and a half years leading this great club as CEO I am leaving Hibs on very good and amicable terms by mutual consent.

Simply put, I’ve done everything the club has asked me to do and more. I wish the inspiring Ron Gordon was here to see it and enjoy the highs and lows and successes we’ve achieved. The Gordon family are fantastic owners and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Together with the staff, players and support of sponsors, suppliers, corporate guests and the brilliant fanbase we have transformed the club off the pitch, doubling turnover with incredible, unrivalled commercial growth, building a fantastic staff culture across both HTC and Easter Road and improving the stadium and training ground so it’s unrecognisable from when I arrived in July 2021.
There was a clear strategic plan and it’s been delivered over this time.

Easter Road as a match day experience is best in class now and I take great pride in having delivered that and it generating the revenues and experiences it now does for everyone to enjoy.

Bringing Black Knight Football Group on board for a first of its kind investment and partnership in Scotland was also a big achievement which will benefit Hibs on the pitch for years to come and on top of this we have managed to achieve millions in player sales through my negotiations and I leave the club with the men’s and women’s team on fantastic form with brilliant management in place across all areas.

I wish we could have had more success on the pitch despite the semi finals and one Premier Sport cup final and the one season in Europe getting knocked out by Aston Villa but that’s football for you.
I have so much confidence that with the solid foundations now in place this club will go on to achieve great success because it deserves it.

Thank you to everyone for their hard work, efforts and support and there are too many to mention but I will forever be a Hibs supporter because it’s just a wonderful football club in a brilliant city with fantastic people at the heart of it. It was an absolute honour to lead Hibernian FC”


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" Self praise us no honour " .

[Hibiza]

" Self praise is no honour "

[Bostonhibby]

From his LinkedIn

“It’s with a real sense of pride, achievement and satisfaction that after over three and a half years leading this great club as CEO I am leaving Hibs on very good and amicable terms by mutual consent.

Simply put, I’ve done everything the club has asked me to do and more. I wish the inspiring Ron Gordon was here to see it and enjoy the highs and lows and successes we’ve achieved. The Gordon family are fantastic owners and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Together with the staff, players and support of sponsors, suppliers, corporate guests and the brilliant fanbase we have transformed the club off the pitch, doubling turnover with incredible, unrivalled commercial growth, building a fantastic staff culture across both HTC and Easter Road and improving the stadium and training ground so it’s unrecognisable from when I arrived in July 2021.
There was a clear strategic plan and it’s been delivered over this time.

Easter Road as a match day experience is best in class now and I take great pride in having delivered that and it generating the revenues and experiences it now does for everyone to enjoy.

Bringing Black Knight Football Group on board for a first of its kind investment and partnership in Scotland was also a big achievement which will benefit Hibs on the pitch for years to come and on top of this we have managed to achieve millions in player sales through my negotiations and I leave the club with the men’s and women’s team on fantastic form with brilliant management in place across all areas.

I wish we could have had more success on the pitch despite the semi finals and one Premier Sport cup final and the one season in Europe getting knocked out by Aston Villa but that’s football for you.
I have so much confidence that with the solid foundations now in place this club will go on to achieve great success because it deserves it.

Thank you to everyone for their hard work, efforts and support and there are too many to mention but I will forever be a Hibs supporter because it’s just a wonderful football club in a brilliant city with fantastic people at the heart of it. It was an absolute honour to lead Hibernian FC”


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Lots of quadrangle type horse **** in there like most good episodes of The Office were legendary for but glazed over on reaching the self congratulatory successes bit.



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[Viva_Palmeiras]

Down to the Tungsten Triangle now

The public triangle?

[CentreLine]

Wish Ben Kensell well and won’t be surprised when he turns up in an EPL club. Certainly BKGroup seem to be impressed by his achievements at Hibs.

[Chorley Hibee]

Not sure how anyone would know figures, unless involved at Board level, or a Finance person at Hibs, or an external auditor, and don't think they would be discussing specifics so openly. I can see a rather big loss, but would be appalled if £7m

There should be quite a few heads rolling if that is even remotely true.

I hope this is the beginning of the end for the owners too.

[Coco Bryce]

Can anyone find the thread that a poster put up a few months back saying major changes were happening?

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It was pretty much cemented in November when his wife and kids moved back down South that he would follow shortly.

[CentreLine]

There should be quite a few heads rolling if that is even remotely true.

I hope this is the beginning of the end for the owners too.

Thankfully the owners have already committed to make good on any losses. My own feeling is it’s IG’s recruitment policy that has led to any financial loss.

[Chorley Hibee]

Thankfully the owners have already committed to make good on any losses. My own feeling is it’s IG’s recruitment policy that has led to any financial loss.

For now.

What happens when they've had enough and the losses keep building.

That's the worry.

[Since452]

It's a pity Ian Gordon can't "mutually agree" to go as well. Malky I think could bring some benefit to the club.

[Lago]

Wish Ben Kensell well and won’t be surprised when he turns up in an EPL club. Certainly BKGroup seem to be impressed by his achievements at Hibs.
This.

[joe breezy]

I was expecting Black Knights to take over


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[CentreLine]

For now.

What happens when they've had enough and the losses keep building.

That's the worry.

It sure is. Yet we have had people cheerleading for their immediate departure. We absolutely cannot afford that.
What we also cannot afford is if IG keeps interfering in recruitment and contracts. He said in his interview that he had stopped but time will tell.

[we are hibs]

I was expecting Black Knights to take over


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkHopefully this is the start of the Gordons leaving. Best thing that could happen for the club

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[tamig]

It sure is. Yet we have had people cheerleading for their immediate departure. We absolutely cannot afford that.
What we also cannot afford is if IG keeps interfering in recruitment and contracts. He said in his interview that he had stopped but time will tell.

He’s appointed a guy with strong BK connections to head up recruitment. It would be foolish beyond belief if he was still interfering in that. I can’t see him doing that.

[CentreLine]

He’s appointed a guy with strong BK connections to head up recruitment. It would be foolish beyond belief if he was still interfering in that. I can’t see him doing that.

It would definitely be foolish. Why don’t you think he’d do that? His family own the club I just feel it’s hard for a number of reasons for him to let go. Not least because he was unexpectedly thrown in to running the club and he will be haunted by his father’s dream of success.

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Wish Ben Kensell well and won’t be surprised when he turns up in an EPL club. Certainly BKGroup seem to be impressed by his achievements at Hibs.

Did he not introduce the Baron Knights to the club? Not sure if he had dealings with Brighton but time will tell if we opted to back the right horse.

3.5 years probably the shelf-life of a CEO. Seems he may have overstepped his duties if he interfered with the playing side of things but I’d imagine that would have been naively blessed by the Gordon’s? to a degree. Some uptick on the revenues but let’s see what this set of accounts reveal.

Good luck to him - don’t understand the vitriol of some of the personal attacks and surely no one can condone abusing his wife in public if reports are true.

[CentreLine]

Did he not introduce the Baron Knights to the club? Not sure if he had dealings with Brighton but time will tell if we opted to back the right horse.

3.5 years probably the shelf-life of a CEO. Seems he may have overstepped his duties if he interfered with the playing side of things but I’d imagine that would have been naively blessed by the Gordon’s? to a degree. Some uptick on the revenues but let’s see what this set of accounts reveal.

Good luck to him - don’t understand the vitriol of some of the personal attacks and surely no one can condone abusing his wife in public if reports are true.

Suspect BK didn’t interfere with the playing side but based on his own interview I believe Ian Gordon interfered with the playing side.

[Drewster]

Not sure how anyone would know figures, unless involved at Board level, or a Finance person at Hibs, or an external auditor, and don't think they would be discussing specifics so openly. I can see a rather big loss, but would be appalled if £7m

It was a circa £7M loss in the previous set of accounts overseen by this charlatan, if you exclude profits from player trading - and a huge salary as a reward for delivering these disastrous results. Thankfully he’s now gone!

[CropleyWasGod]

It was a circa £7M loss in the previous set of accounts overseen by this charlatan, if you exclude profits from player trading - and a huge salary as a reward for delivering these disastrous results. Thankfully he’s now gone!

Not sure why you would do that. It's part of our model, as it is for most clubs.

Why not give him credit for making £3m on players?

[RIP]

https://www.hibs.net/showthread.php?349976-Thank-you-Leeann-Dempster

Big difference from the reception his predecessor got on here, when their departure was announced?

[Hibees1973]

It would definitely be foolish. Why don’t you think he’d do that? His family own the club I just feel it’s hard for a number of reasons for him to let go. Not least because he was unexpectedly thrown in to running the club and he will be haunted by his father’s dream of success.

Careful CentreLine. I posted a tongue in cheek comment about Ian Gordon last night which met with considerable negative feedback.

I've got no doubts Ian Gordon has stepped back from any recruitment role. He will have nothing to do with identifying players. Malky, Garvan Stewart and Gray may have to run financials past Ian Gordon, but that will be it.

No one is sure about the reported £7m loss in the last financial year. However, a considerable amount has been burned and still is (long contracts) on poor recruitment of players and managers in the last 3 to 4 years. Kensell & Ian Gordon are fully culpable for this.

[Brightside]

It's a pity Ian Gordon can't "mutually agree" to go as well. Malky I think could bring some benefit to the club.

Well they have been bankrolling the losses. Just remember that when you want rid of them.

[Brightside]

https://www.hibs.net/showthread.php?349976-Thank-you-Leeann-Dempster

Big difference from the reception his predecessor got on here, when their departure was announced?

People ignore what suits their own personal narrative.

[B.H.F.C]

Well they have been bankrolling the losses. Just remember that when you want rid of them.

Aye but they’ve ran up the losses in the first place with bad decision after bad decision.

[we are hibs]

Well they have been bankrolling the losses. Just remember that when you want rid of them.The losses they generated due to their incompetence

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[flash]

Has this 7 million loss been reported or is this all based on some jokers comment on Facebook?

[Drewster]

Not sure why you would do that. It's part of our model, as it is for most clubs.

Why not give him credit for making £3m on players?

Only to highlight that turnover is not profit and losses at this level
are not sustainable.

[Brightside]

Aye but they’ve ran up the losses in the first place with bad decision after bad decision.

And they are covering that. Wanting rid right now makes no sense. BK group will take over soon enough and we will probably have much bigger losses that they will cover too. Our neighbours would be having £10m losses without the.backing of fans and rich benefactors.

[Brightside]

Has this 7 million loss been reported or is this all based on some jokers comment on Facebook?

Gives everyone a new chance to dig the club.

[aberhibsfc]

Any info on why he's gone and potential replacement?

[CropleyWasGod]

Only to highlight that turnover is not profit and losses at this level
are not sustainable.

Trading players is part of what football clubs do, though. You have to take those profits into account.

[tamig]

It would definitely be foolish. Why don’t you think he’d do that? His family own the club I just feel it’s hard for a number of reasons for him to let go. Not least because he was unexpectedly thrown in to running the club and he will be haunted by his father’s dream of success.

He’s said publicly he won’t do it and I think the Vegas summit meeting will have cleared a few things up. On that basis, I can’t see him looking to piss off Foley and co again by meddling in football matters. Just my opinion, but I think he will back off. Hard as that may be for him.

[CentreLine]

https://www.hibs.net/showthread.php?349976-Thank-you-Leeann-Dempster

Big difference from the reception his predecessor got on here, when their departure was announced?

Looks like I started that thread. At least I’ve got form for appreciating peoples’ efforts. 😉

[green day]

Has this 7 million loss been reported or is this all based on some jokers comment on Facebook?

There's a couple of suspect posters on here - I'm sure you know who - that are all in on this story.

Oddly, this is before the accounts and AGM are out, but......hey.....let's kick the club.

Pair of cardigan wearing rover drivers, imo.

[Lago]

It was pretty much cemented in November when his wife and kids moved back down South that he would follow shortly.
Well if it's true his wife was being harassed on the streets of Edinburgh I can understand why he's gone.

[Coco Bryce]

Well if it's true his wife was being harassed on the streets of Edinburgh I can understand why he's gone.

Both of them were. With their kids as well sometimes.

Shocking behaviour from some of our fans.

[AdidasHibernian]

Wish him all the best but glad it's happened as feel we need a change as I'm sure others do also.. Malky next please 👍

[Unseen work]

Well if it's true his wife was being harassed on the streets of Edinburgh I can understand why he's gone.

Even Josh Campbell has been getting abuse in his gym, people going up to him etc

Bang out of order

[JimBHibees]

Both of them were. With their kids as well sometimes.

Shocking behaviour from some of our fans.

Despicable behaviour pathetic

[Lago]

Both of them were. With their kids as well sometimes.

Shocking behaviour from some of our fans.
Honestly that's unacceptable, no way that can be defended.

[Lago]

Even Josh Campbell has been getting abuse in his gym, people going up to him etc

Bang out of order
That's awful, a young man doing his best for the club. I don't understand some folk.

[Carheenlea]

Has this 7 million loss been reported or is this all based on some jokers comment on Facebook?

Maybe leaked by Hibs themselves to whip fans into a frenzy then when accounts are published a £4M loss might be looked upon as not too bad.

[Ribs1875]

Good luck and probably the right time for him to go. If true, then it's disappointing folk giving him dogs abuse in public.

He seemed like a nice enough guy, also sat in the hibs end at tynecastle a few times. I am sure he done everything with the clubs best interest in hand.

Going forward I would love to see Dempster come back in.

[Donegal Hibby]

Even Josh Campbell has been getting abuse in his gym, people going up to him etc

Bang out of order

It was mentioned on a podcast recently that he was getting abuse … really is awful stuff from some so called fans , really don’t know what they think it achieves either.

[JimBHibees]

That's awful, a young man doing his best for the club. I don't understand some folk.

Pathetic an honest professional who loves the club should have knocked them out

[Carheenlea]

Good luck and probably the right time for him to go. If true, then it's disappointing folk giving him dogs abuse in public.

He seemed like a nice enough guy, also sat in the hibs end at tynecastle a few times. I am sure he done everything with the clubs best interest in hand.

Going forward I would love to see Dempster come back in.

On her departure, I remember Leeann Dempster suggesting that the life span of an effective CEO was about 4 years. Ben Kensell is about that length of tenure and the time was right for a fresh approach for Hibs and a new challenge for Kensell.

Dempster coming back wouldn’t fit into her narrative of what makes a productive and successful CEO.

[Smartie]

Only to highlight that turnover is not profit and losses at this level
are not sustainable.

They’re sustainable for as long as we’ve not hounded out the people who are prepared to underwrite the losses.

[NC1875]

Well if it's true his wife was being harassed on the streets of Edinburgh I can understand why he's gone.

Aye let’s blame it all on the big bad Hibs fans.

I’m sure his wife had her own reasons for leaving, and he’s now following her as you’d expect and has been rumoured for months.

A Del Boy know it all, who’s bummed himself up after achieving absolutely nothing. Millions in losses, crap on the pitch since his arrival.

But aye Ben, you really are great 👍🏼

[Donegal Hibby]

It's a pity Ian Gordon can't "mutually agree" to go as well. Malky I think could bring some benefit to the club.

I’d rather Ian Gordon and the Gordon family stay as our owners unless there is another party that will put money in and continue to make our club their No .1 priority.

[007]

It was a circa £7M loss in the previous set of accounts overseen by this charlatan, if you exclude profits from player trading - and a huge salary as a reward for delivering these disastrous results. Thankfully he’s now gone!


Not sure why you would do that. It's part of our model, as it is for most clubs.

Why not give him credit for making £3m on players?


Only to highlight that turnover is not profit and losses at this level
are not sustainable.


Trading players is part of what football clubs do, though. You have to take those profits into account.

I agree with CWG, why exclude it? And you've not even mentioned any of the underlying reasons for the losses, amongst which are the costs to fit out the West Stand hospitality so if you are excluding anything to explain the position it should be one-off costs like those. All the evidence we have points to it being a success and a good decision to incur those costs for the betterment of the club going forward, unless you can show me otherwise.

Also, Ron Gordon chose to forego the money we were due for Boyle to bring him back, that was outside of the budget so all of it contributed to the losses. I suppose you said at that time it was a bad idea and wasn't worth and would still say so now?

If you'd been making the decisions, would you have decided against upgrading hospitality and bringing back Boyle because they'd be to the detriment of the bottom line in that financial year?

[Onion]

I’d rather Ian Gordon and the Gordon family stay as our owners unless there is another party that will put money in and continue to make our club their No .1 priority.

Agree, often better the devil you know.

Think the Gordon's have Hibs best interests at heart, but just naive in their decision-making on football matters. Best outcome would be for them to continue to bring in expertise (BKs etc), get rid of the deadwood build from there.

[Brizo]

Good news.

He was responsible for more leaks than there were on the Titanic, his attempts to be one of the lads were cringeworthy and contrary to the self- congratulatory job application disguised as a LinkedIn post that he's put out on his departure , he spectacularly failed to deliver where it ultimately mattered, on the football side of things.

[mcohibs]

Even Josh Campbell has been getting abuse in his gym, people going up to him etc

Bang out of order

According to Marvin Bartley on a podcast. Would take that with a hefty pinch of salt tbh

[Cooshed Kid]

Good luck in your future endeavours, Ben. Whatever your legacy at the club may be, I'm sure your intentions were good. You were trusted by Ron and there to help when the family desperately needed it and that's no small thing. You also played a major part in bringing in the BK which may yet prove a wonderful, enduring benefit long after your departure.

[Not In The Know]

Being 3rd in the league the season before (cup winners aside) it was gtd group stage football and millions in revenue. Hearts x2, Aberdeen and god forbid Dundeee Utd all taking advantage of that while we struggled to make the top 6. Leaving the club at the tail end of a mid season transfer window with nae players signed when we have a slim chance of getting it this year sums up his total failure on the football side.

The Stadium is in good shape but give me a few million and I’d make it look decent too.

I remember Sir Tom at the press conference with Ron when the sale went through. A Hack asked STF any advice for Ron? He replied yeah “just win football matches” and to paraphrase that’s all the supporters care about.

[Smartie]

Even Josh Campbell has been getting abuse in his gym, people going up to him etc

Bang out of order

Given Josh has been playing to a very high standard lately, maybe we should adopt this tactic more often?

[green day]

I remember Sir Tom at the press conference with Ron when the sale went through. A Hack asked STF any advice for Ron? He replied yeah “just win football matches” and to paraphrase that’s all the supporters care about.

Yep, while I can accept and understand that BK oversaw a big uptick in revenue, the truth is that we would all trade in these amazing hospitality facilities for a team that plays competitively at the right end of the table.

Or perhaps, for a club with good revenues and supportive fans, we can have both?

[followhibs]

Aye let’s blame it all on the big bad Hibs fans.

I’m sure his wife had her own reasons for leaving, and he’s now following her as you’d expect and has been rumoured for months.

A Del Boy know it all, who’s bummed himself up after achieving absolutely nothing. Millions in losses, crap on the pitch since his arrival.

But aye Ben, you really are great 👍🏼

I'm with you, I believe there was a very good reason why his family went back down south months ago, nothing to do with Hibs fans.
When your job involves professional sport you are going to come under pressure at times (I'm not condoning abusing families in the street) hence the financial compensation.
His salary at a club our size and financial losses was ridiculous.
He has been bankrolled by the Gordons so has improved the stadium and HTC the real talent would have been to do this with the the profits from league position, cup runs, player trading, European games.
The club had made massive losses(forget this stupidity smokescreen about turnover) we have sacked 4 managers( huge pay offs), massive underperforming squad numerous admin blunders that make the club a laughing stock.
My opinion is this next set of accounts has made his position untenable, Black Knights have clearly marked his homework and its clear what a poor job has been done.
I think this is very positive move from the club and the focus can get backing SDG and the team and the results on the pitch and building the connection back with the fanbase which after the last few months can clearly se is there.

[CentreLine]

Aye let’s blame it all on the big bad Hibs fans.

I’m sure his wife had her own reasons for leaving, and he’s now following her as you’d expect and has been rumoured for months.

A Del Boy know it all, who’s bummed himself up after achieving absolutely nothing. Millions in losses, crap on the pitch since his arrival.

But aye Ben, you really are great 👍🏼

It’s to our shame that we have fans who think it is acceptable to harass and threaten people.

[NC1875]

It’s to our shame that we have fans who think it is acceptable to harass and threaten people.

No one is condoning that. But unfortunately it happens to everyone involved in sport. But to say that’s the reason his family left is absolute nonsense.

Good riddance anyway.

He’s effectively been a project manager for the upgrades on the stadium etc. Not really a hard task to make a hospitality suite look better with millions to spend.

He’s failed on every other thing that matters.

He won’t be missed.

[Aldo]

No one is condoning that. But unfortunately it happens to everyone involved in sport. But to say that’s the reason his family left is absolute nonsense.

Good riddance anyway.

He’s effectively been a project manager for the upgrades on the stadium etc. Not really a hard task to make a hospitality suite look better with millions to spend.

He’s failed on every other thing that matters.

He won’t be missed.

What about bringing in commercial partners/sponsors??

I think someone else posted this but I’m sure he played big part in attracting Foley and the BKG to the club.

He has moved on and no one will know bar a few why he left but if his family felt unsafe then he has to ensure they are looked after. To dismiss it imho is wrong. Why should abuse be part and parcel of sport.

[Hibs90]

Very quickly becoming a .net fact I see.

[Clarence]

We need to know what this means for the block seven banner.

[flash]

Very quickly becoming a .net fact I see.

No he has definitely left the club.

[Brightside]

No one is condoning that. But unfortunately it happens to everyone involved in sport. But to say that’s the reason his family left is absolute nonsense.

Good riddance anyway.

He’s effectively been a project manager for the upgrades on the stadium etc. Not really a hard task to make a hospitality suite look better with millions to spend.

He’s failed on every other thing that matters.

He won’t be missed.

It doesnt happen to everyone involved in sport. His family 100% moved back down south after the abuse.

[Brightside]

What about bringing in commercial partners/sponsors??

I think someone else posted this but I’m sure he played big part in attracting Foley and the BKG to the club.

He has moved on and no one will know bar a few why he left but if his family felt unsafe then he has to ensure they are looked after. To dismiss it imho is wrong. Why should abuse be part and parcel of sport.

All correct. Some very shady opinions on here. He's gone. Wish him well and thank him for his hard work.