Printable View
I know he was back in Edinburgh for Christmas but anyone know if he’s still here?
I think I’m right in saying the unveiling of the big plan was to be in January, when I saw he was back at Christmas I assumed it would have been at the start of the year so hopefully get to hear soon?
I’m sure I’m probably expecting too much from whatever is announced but they did make it sound like some big news was coming when they spoke about it after Heckingbottom was sacked.
Starting to forget he’s even here
What do people think the news will be ?
Obviously like everyone else I'm keen to find out but haven't a clue as to what it could be, wouldn't even want to speculate.
Certainly not had the immediate impact on the transfer budget I’d hoped for. Obviously it’s early days In January but I’m taking JR at face value when he says we need to move players on before signing players.Quote:
Originally Posted by .Sean.
Hopefully the longer term plans we’re due to hear about soon are a bit more exciting than what we’ve seen short term.
Rebrand as Red Bull Hibernians, new astrodome stadium with 5000 seater hotel below, Messi as marquee signing and Guardiola as manager (I assume we are waiting on him being fired before big Rons announcement).Quote:
Originally Posted by stoneyburn hibs
Building an indoor pitch at East Mains, renovating their corner area between the FF and the East and/or a partnership with a foreign side, although I’m not sure what benefits that would bring.Quote:
Originally Posted by stoneyburn hibs
Still don’t understand why he’s bought us.
I think it’ll news about the structure of the club. I also think there will be something or other regards a new indoor facility down at EM.Quote:
Originally Posted by stoneyburn hibs
I don’t think we’ll see huge investment on the playing side. Players wages etc. Folks going to be very disappointed considering the big build up. 😕
Craig Levein?Quote:
Originally Posted by green day
Could do worse than build a hotel in the corner between the FF & the East as someone mentioned.
Definitely a money spinner for the club. Might bring a few tourists through the turnstiles also.
Big signing as statement of intent.
Standing section and big screens at ER.
Sly dig at Hearts.
That’ll do me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jacomo
just the sly dig at Hearts would be enough really. :greengrin
Fill in the corners
Crack Russian sniper unit to take out the gulls.
Monorail up St Clair St.
Chips.
We dont have the chip on shoulder/inferiority complex they have so no need really.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sas_The_Hibby
I'm just expecting a vague outline of a 5 year business plan. What we've heard before but from the new guy. That we are going to maximise commercial revenue, invest in youth, play a role in the community, want to be challenging or cups and qualifying for Europe. I can't see there being anything exciting, specific, new or any real investment - will just be sound bites. I'm getting old and cynical I know
I think your cynicism could well be spit on. Folks will definitely be disappointed but I suppose he could surprise us all. 🙃Quote:
Originally Posted by MacGruber
That’s what I think we’ll do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Weegreenman
When I said develop between the east and FF, I don’t think there’s a need or a demand for putting seats in but there’s certainly a demand for space to build in the area. Student accommodation would be my bet though.
As boring as it is, I can see why there’s not been much investment in the playing side, the value for your pound in the transfer market is so bad it really makes sense to invest in the infrastructure more if you can.
Big plan aside, I hope for some kind of obvious difference in terms of quality of players coming in.
Hibs are run as a pretty lean club, in terms of wastage on wages etc... There are probably half a dozen players who collect first team wages that most of us would like to see moving on, always with the hope that we can sign better. Three or four players away from being a pretty decent outfit, etc, sigh...
A few have asked the basic question as to why wee big Ron has bought Hibs at all. Not that great six months into his ownership.
Have to say announcements about East Mains won’t do it for me. We shouldn’t be writing off another season and Wee/big Ron needs to realise that another middling-underwhelming season will see fans stop buying season tickets.
The past five years have been good ones in the history of the club. We played some really entertaining football, won the cup, lost a final and reached a fair few semis. I want to see this as the start of a new era, one in which Hibs thrive, play in Europe, win more cups....is it so unrealistic to hope for this? Otherwise, what is the point.
Edinburgh has too many hotels as it is. So, one with its bedrooms facing a graveyard, and next to a war zone (Lochend Butterfly) may struggle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Weegreenman
I really think folk will be very disappointed if they expect him to invest in players.
He'll run Hibs like Farmer and Petrie did. Make the club sustainable, bring it forward, probably get some good sponsors. Nothing flashy.
Expensive apartmentsQuote:
Originally Posted by stoneyburn hibs
January is certainly at the start of the year 😊Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Did hecky not blow the 'significant' investment in the transfer budget on rubbish?
Then how do you explain why hotels are being built all over Edinburgh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cataplana
I'll be a bit disappointed if he doesn't announce a plaza/piazza, but if we don't get an escalator, I swear I'll do time.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibsbollah
Statement of intent to go after Celtic and Rangers with big signings. (although it would be better to do this in the summer)
Stadium renovation starting with FF stand including the the installation of a standing section in the lower tier, and eventually the South lower as well.
Better communication between the club and fans.
Restriction of OF allocations instead of restricting our own fans and blaming them for all the trouble at games.
No idea.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hermit Crab
I think we shopped in a similar market than we did before and brought on similar numbers as before while losing out on players to rival clubs in the same league as us. I’m not a numbers man so I genuinely don’t know but I’d guess there wasn’t really any significant investment in the playing squad and we’re probably paying the same on the playing squad as we did last season.
If anything part of the significant investment would have been used to make up the difference from not having a sponsor this year.
I see hen & stag doo’s travel in from airport and other hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh. I think a hotel at our stadium would be considered a hot spot location to stay for a few day’s.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cataplana
Would you settle for La Favorita selling some Pizza?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
There plenty calls for hotels, air bnb’s and student accommodation in Edinburgh. Post you’re replying to is a lot of rubbish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Weegreenman
They also don’t care if it’s opposite a graveyard.
The impression I got from his and Dempster’s interviews is they were working on tweaks to the matchday experience. Afraid that those expecting a big announcement are likely to be disappointed. More chance it’s an introduction of vegan pies than a hotel or a marquee signing.
I don’t understand why people have unrealistic expectations
I'd cope with that as long as it had beautiful, shiny, moving stairs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iain G
Quote:
Originally Posted by Weegreenman
Lets be honest, the area around the stadium is not the best. Tenement flats with authentic inner city domestics and violence on occasions and an industrial estate. :greengrin
Be better if he outlined plans to buy the budgie out....then liquidate them. Been tried before ? 😈😈Quote:
Originally Posted by Sas_The_Hibby
This is gonna get thrown up just like Petries "5 year plan" did every time things ain't going well.
So......a theme hotel instead!Quote:
Originally Posted by Hermit Crab
Whats a hotel signing? 😄Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronson
This debate is confused by the fact that, yeah, there is demand for hotels, but there are still 'too many' in terms of the city being overdeveloped to within an inch of its life, it's become global air b n b central and residents feel excluded from the city centre.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
But I'd take a plaza. Or a piazza. In fact I think they're the same thing. And definitely pizza. Make it happen Ron.
It would be excellent if it was something significant, more so for the seethe of the 5 points clear mob.
I don't think there will be any big announcements by wee Ron,much along the as you were line,imo only.
Did the club not say there was big plans that would be announced in January and they wanted to say more before then but couldn’t?Quote:
Originally Posted by SMAXXA
I suspect I’m one of the people that’s getting a bit carried away but I think it’s the club that have built this up, not over eager fans like me.
Because we are football fans and it is what we do.Quote:
Originally Posted by SMAXXA
Safe standing section to upgrade the atmosphere.
Fair comment, over to you Hibernian.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Andy Marriot or Kirk Hilton?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sudds_1
Quote:
Originally Posted by stoneyburn hibs
Moving to a new, larger stadium just outside town.
I am sure I heard that we would be installing two big (TV) screens in the corners of east stand in the summer. I think I heard it as part of Graeme Mathie interview on Hibs Talk podcast. GM was a also very complementary about Rom and talked about how passionate and energetic he is and how detailed he wants to get into.
ReportedQuote:
Originally Posted by Keith_M
Who is Graeme Rennie?Quote:
Originally Posted by Col2
Meant Mathie. Not sure where that came from!Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Merging with Edinburgh's other club to make a "super club" with the intention of making a stronger challenge to the Glasgow clubs.Quote:
Originally Posted by stoneyburn hibs
Or maybe buying a few wine bars in the Bath area?
Not expecting anything particularly exciting..the club and Ron himself were pretty clear when he came in that the club would continue to run much as it had before.
Not particularly sure why you buy a club and then do that but there you go. Mid table mediocrity it is until we unearth a crop of wonder kids.
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
Edingengeng Hibernators?Quote:
Originally Posted by Smartie
An hotel is pie in the sky.
They costs £thousands per square metre to build so even if they want tiny rooms with no facilities like a bar, restaurant, pool or gym, they're looking at tens of millions.
This is for accommodation at least 2 miles away from the main tourist areas, with a poor outlook and not in an exactly salubrious area compared to what Edinburgh can offer.
It would probably fail, and even if it didn't, it would take decades to pay for itself which is no use to either Ron Gordon or Hibs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stoneyburn hibs
Where? The Evening News?
:greengrin
;faf:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sudds_1
It will only get thrown up if it’s just an unquantifiable sound bite to buy time, as it was for Petrie. If it’s a genuine 5 year plan with detail that’s something else. Here’s hoping we don’t end up relegated at the end of this 5 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
Does anybody know what height "Big" Ron actually is?
People need to calm down and get off his back a bit imo.
I get everyone is anxious and asks where is he, why did he buy the club etc etc. Personally I don’t want a owner who is in the press doing interviews every 2 minutes. He’s clearly passionate about football and saw us as an attractive team/location.
He has already contributed a lot by wiping out debt and investing a 7 figure sum.
Whether the club put his money and the money saved to good use is another question and not one to be aimed at him.
I can see potentially some of the following
Updated sound system and scoreboard/TV in corners
Standing section
Partnership with another team
Indoor pitch
Updated hospitality
I get people want massive signings but I don’t think our wage structure will be moved too much and rightly so. We have the 4/5th biggest budget in the league yet Motherwell and Livi are above us and many above hearts.
I think it’s more a case of improving the recruitment than chucking in millions - Look at the summer signings Vela, Doidge, Newell, Maxwell and James. They’ll be on or would have been on a healthy wage since they were playing in England, doesn’t mean they’re going to transform us.
Where as we could potentially have had Ambrose, Mulumbu, Shankland etc who know the league and I imagine would have came.
3 foot 6. He's keen on marmalade too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith_M
He’s a business man who has stated the club need to seek additional ways to increase the revenue stream.
With that in mind I’m expecting him to announce the purchase of a string of pubs and wine bars in England which he hopes will provide revenue for the football side of things.
Avon Inns is the planned company name I think I heard mentioned in conversation........
I don’t think for a second Hibs will want to become hoteliers but selling the area to a company to build a hotel is feasible surely?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
Anyway, I think hotels being built is yesterday’s news, short term let’s are where the money is now, especially in Edinburgh so I think that’s where the value would be on that site.
The save Leith walk campaign recently won I think, if the developers who were hoping to build down there are looking for an alternative site, that one could be ideal for them.
Not surprisingly, he tends to keep that under his hat as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibsbollah
Good post.Quote:
Originally Posted by Unseen work
Totally agree.
I hope Hibs have learned their lesson on this - the last investment in hospitality as good as bankrupt the club.Quote:
Originally Posted by Weegreenman
Left field suggestion - buy a midfielder?
Ffs man it’s the 4th of January calm down do you thing they were waiting till the fireworks to issue their statement.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Did you read my OP?Quote:
Originally Posted by SMAXXA
I said I wondered if there might be an announcement as he was in Edinburgh over Christmas? That’s the reason I’m mentioning it this early in the month.
I’m perfectly calm, well as calm as I can be during a transfer window which is an excitable time for me.
I mentioned a while back but I would love to see the hibs club move to the space between the east and FF. sell the hibs club to fund it.
New hibs club with facilities overlooking the pitch. Great place for birthdays, weddings, conferences etc and a good place for drinks before the game.
New development pays for itself. The members get the benefit of a brand new state of the art facility. Everyone wins.
Last investment nearly bankrupt the club?? 🤔Quote:
Originally Posted by Yorkshire HFC
He means Rowland, Duff and Gray with the Avon Inns chain.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarlingtonHibee
I don't think the club said anything of the sort.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Kieran the fans' rep mentioned that plans were being made and would be revealed in due course.
I'm pleased that Ron & the board appear to be taking their time to produce sensible, achievable proposals instead of simply pacifying the support with daft soundbites (à la Vlad, Budge, etc.).
Can't see us being in that place again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doh Rae Me
Ach they started it.
Anyhow, Hibernian wit goes right over their heads so it’s just an in joke, not riling the maroon balloons.
Hope not, gone all hipster.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iain G
I agree. I think the words "big plans" were someone's, probably sarcastic remark, during our horrible run under PH, in response to something Leeann Dempster had said about future plans.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peevemor
Quote:
Originally Posted by hibsbollah
:aok:
I can't see that being a goer, the Hibs club have just spent a packet on renovating the club. Transport links to the back of the FF are nonresistant, at least you can get a bus to the top of the lane for the Hibs clubQuote:
Originally Posted by Hibs4185
I think they did.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peevemor
It was the series of interviews with Ron, Dempster and Mathie that were released the week of Heckingbottoms sacking.
The one where he laughed at himself as being referred to as the invisible man. It was a good interview.
Edit- I’ve looked on hibs tv on YouTube to try and find it but no joy.
Made up 😂Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
It would be good to hear something concrete rather than just spin.
Indoor pitch - not sure latest with this but hopefully this can be sorted.
Hospitality needs improved / updated.
Stadium - likewise - new scoreboard at each end and finally sorting the PA system. Also improved TV studio / Male it permanent in FF lower box ?
Regarding the car park / gap - build a hotel and would mean corners not being filled.
A community centre - alongside supporters bar / cafe would be the way forward but not sure they will go this route.
Sorting the FF Lower empty seats and moving signing section to middle FF lower and installing safe standing would bring a new buzz to ER.
Would like to see all corners of the stadium enclosed in some manner to improve atmosphere.
Obviously a link with another team to get players loaned to us would also be useful.
Hopefully they announce the AGM soon and we hear plans before we resume 2nd half of season.
✅ http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/10396Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
They can take their time but an update of sorts shouldn’t be too hard to put out by him in between him coming in and finalising the plans. Hibs fans aren’t any different to other fans in that silence can cause fans to speculate and when it does get revealed, disappointment. I find it weird that he bought the club and and then went very quiet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peevemor
https://youtu.be/BiW8RrDFawUQuote:
Originally Posted by Peevemor
This is the link to the invisible man interview and talk of revealing the plans
https://twitter.com/hibernianfc/stat...775228418?s=21
Mentions around the 3minute mark that they’d be I a position to reveal the strategic plans to the supporters after the board meeting in December.
https://twitter.com/hibernianfc/stat...950276610?s=21
Around the 7-8 minute mark Dempster speaks about changes coming soon after they’ve been presented To and approved by the board.
Ultimately you’re correct in that there wasn’t any mention of ‘big’ changes but that was certainly the impression I got during those interviews. Maybe that’s my fault for hearing what I wanted to hear though.
In terms of the ‘match day experience’ though, nothing could really interest me less, the match day experience to me revolves round getting a performance and a win on the park, if the strategic plan is going to be around selling hot dogs instead of pies or a new catering company then I’ll be pretty disappointed, again maybe my own fault for making incorrect assumptions.
Nothings been made up.Quote:
Originally Posted by SMAXXA
I’ve maybe been guilty of remembering things incorrectly but when I listened to those interviews i got the impression we would finally get to hear Rons big plans after the strategic review. All we have heard to date is short 5-6 minute clips and sound bites.
That’s been fine with me as I appreciate he wanted to learn the business before talking about what else could be done, I did hope at some point we would get an idea of his longer term vision though and I had hoped it would be in January, as was alluded to in his interview.
If it’s just going to be the same but with a few admin changes it cost cutting excercises then that’s pretty disappointing tbh.
As I said before though, maybe that’s my fault for hearing something I wanted to, rather than what he actually said.
Piazza or Plaza facing a new glass curtain with a safe standing area for solo clapping after cup final defeats.
I think it is the least we should expect.
I was just kidding on with the made up comment no offence intended 👍Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
I would reiterate though it’s only a few days into January I’m sure we will hear things shortly. I don’t have any expectations that it’s going to be a revolutionary plan that’s going to blow people’s socks off and with that will naturally be people disappointed, either way it’s going to be interesting what direction a new owner will want to take the club.
As someone who has worked in the hotel industry for most of my career, in senior management roles up to and including General Manager level, they are very hard work to get a reasonable profit on each year. It can of course be done but it would be a major gamble and the amount of money it would take to built would likely mean you wouldn't see a return on your investment for the best part of a decade if you're doing well. The venture could of course be a failure , there are a couple of very well known and centrally located hotels that have had major financial issues in recent years and that's with a city centre location.
Ron Gordon is obviously a smart businessman and I would be amazed if he was looking to build a hotel at Easter Road.
A piazza/plaza though?Quote:
Originally Posted by Since90+2
Would never be as good as the wonder they built in Gorgie so I'd steer clear of that too.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibsbollah
Avon Inns still annoys me....No way I think we would build a hotel, why would we?Quote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
There’s no way we will build a hotel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Baldy Foghorn
Selling the area of ground in the corner surely has to be a possibility though and whoever purchases that land may want to turn it into a hotel, I think that is what people are considering and discussing I think?
What corner bingo?Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Between the famous five and the east stand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Baldy Foghorn
I know it’s used for parking but to me that’s a huge bit of wasted ground. With land and property value as it is in Edinburgh I’m amazed we’ve not sold it off yet.
Not for me. Hibs club is fine where it is. It’s separate from the club and should remain so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibs4185
Club can’t get the current hospitality in the Famous five to work, why build more?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A Curtain Glass wall in each corner...
I can't understand this fantasy Hotel in the FF/E corner thing that some people seem to be swooning about. Do you think building and maintaining a hotel there would bring significant revenue? It would do very well to break even!
Never going to happenQuote:
Originally Posted by madabouthibs
Keep the NE corner for seating/ safe standing.
Lower tier seating in NW corner. Hospitality suites/ TV studio above.
Use SW for hotel/ structure.
Keep SE for ambulance access etc.
Done! Fairly straightforward this infrastructure stuff.