At least Hibs stars are being kept in loop..we had to read papers to find out what was going on during Mercer takeover bid says Cooper

BY MICHAEL GANNON m.gannon@dailyrecord.co.uk

IT’S never great news when there’s a team meeting and the first thing on the agenda is: What’s happening to the wages?

But at least Jack Ross and his Hibs squad are being kept in the loop.

Neil Cooper was part of an Easter Road set-up when the players had to nick out to the shops to pick up a paper to find out what was going on.

The current Hibs side are in dialogue with the board over possible deferment of dosh until this coronavirus crisis blows over. They are far from alone with Hearts proposing 50 per cent pay cuts, Aberdeen predicting financial carnage and every club in the land scrambling to make plans to survive in the short, medium and long-term.

But Cooper is pleased the Leith directors are holding talks with their stars – as 30 years ago the playing staff didn’t have a clue about their futures.

The former St Mirren defender followed his old Buddies boss Alex Miller along the M8 in 1989 but was soon part of one of Scottish football’s biggest controversies.

Hearts supremo Wallace Mercer’s attempt to buy Hibs was sold as a merger but fans feared their club was doomed.

And Cooper said: “We were completely in the dark. As professionals you have to try to block out what’s going on.

“But it was impossible not to hear all the rumours. It was the Hibs fans who were suffering the most. They didn’t know if their club was going to exist.

“We had guys like Joe Tortolano, Mickey Weir, Paul Kane, Gordon Hunter and a few others. They were diehard Hibs fans so it wasn’t just their jobs they were worried about.

“Back then there was no internet or social media. They were diving into the shops to buy the papers every morning to find out the latest news. It was a crazy time.”

Much like now. All bets are off right now with the country on shutdown so Cooper is not surprised clubs are having to propose drastic action.

The former Aberdeen youth coach and Inverurie Locos gaffer said: “It’s an uncertain time for everyone. Football is a business at the end of the day, they have no customers coming in but wages have to be paid.

“It’s positive Hibs are talking to staff and trying to find a solution. That will have to be done across the board.

“Clubs in the lower leagues might be able to fall under the government’s plans to keep the wages being paid or a portion of the wages. But it will actually be harder for the clubs with the larger wage bills.

“Footballers are no different to any employee right now. They might get paid more than most but everyone is struggling.

“I never viewed football as a job. I saw it as a privilege. In fairness back then there was a lot of talk about finances and the takeover but there was never a problem with the wages.

“This situation is ever more difficult as no one knows where the money is coming from.”

The uncertainty at Hibs in 1990 was ended when Sir Tom Farmer stepped in and Mercer’s hostile takeover was KOd.

Cooper said: “There was a bit of relief, especially for the fans and the Hibs supporters in the dressing room. It was one of the biggest stories in Scottish football – your big rival trying to take you over. Incredible.”