‘Don’t let cuts harm third place hopes’
Jackie Mcnamara snr has urged Hibs to avoid making drastic cutbacks that could risk throwing away an opportunity to become the country’s third force.
Hibs fans have rallied to back a campaign to help the Easter Road club through the current crisis.
More than 300 fans have pledged donations through Hibernian Supporters Limited (HSL) in the last 48 hours. The organisation’s goal is to attract 1,500 new members on top of the current 2,500 subscribers and help raise as much as £400,000 towards the player budget next season.
Former Hibs captain Mcnamara, a director of HSL, believes finishing third next season is even more achievable following Hearts’ relegation.
He said: “Like any other Hibs fan I understand the need to cut the cloth but I do hope they don’t cut too deep. We should be aiming to hit that third spot.
“There is an opportunity for us to try to help improve the quality of player so I’m really pleased that our supporters are choosing to help out at this really difficult time for the club.”
Hibs owner Ron Gordon admitted the club’s current cost structure is “not sustainable” in a statement on Monday and there are reports of redundancies amongst the coaching staff.
Hibs fans have rallied to the cause following the launch of a supporters’ campaign to help the club through the current difficult financial downturn due to Covid-19.
Owner Ron Gordon released a statement on the club’s website on Monday detailing the extent of the problems.
“We are today embarking on a process of consultation with our people over proposals to find cost reductions,” he said, before adding that the current cost structure “is not sustainable”. There have already been reported redundancies amongst the coaching staff.
Hibernian Supporters Limited (HSL), the club’s second largest shareholder, have responded by urging fans to help the club “at this unprecedented time” and help Hibs take advantage of being Edinburgh’s sole top-flight club next season.
“The reality is that this is the fans’ chance to increase the budget for players and try and help Hibs make a push to challenge for third spot,” said chairman Jim Adie.
“It is always difficult to catch Celtic and Rangers but without Hearts it should really be between us and Aberdeen.”
More than 300 fans have pledged donations through HSL since the start of this week. The organisation’s goal is to attract 1,500 new members on top of the current 2,500 existing subscribers and help raise £400,000 towards the player budget for next season.
The organisation was formed in 2015 with the aim to buy new shares in the club. The ultimate target was owning a 25.1 per cent stake – the total required to have a meaningful say on major issues such as hostile takeover attempts of the sort launched by Hearts owner Wallace Mercer 30 years ago this summer.
A legal agreement between HSL and Hibs which guaranteed the transfer of shares on the receipt of funds was voided when Sir Tom Farmer sold the club to Gordon last summer. The American-based owner has since confirmed there will be no new shares issued which has left the fans’ group stalled on their current stake of 15 per cent.
“There doesn’t have to a big fall out or anything,” said Adie. “At the end of the day he (Gordon) has put his money on the table and it’s his ball.”
Despite this significant change in circumstances fans are being urged to make donations through the HSL website – hiberniansupporters.co.uk. The sums raised will be collected every month and handed to the club.
“Previously when we were buying shares we would basically send in a subscription and that was a request to buy shares – this was usually every few months,” explained Adie.
“However, since the takeover, we have handed over whatever money we have collected on a monthly basis and sent it to the club as a donation.”
HSL are keen to maintain a working relationship with the club. Fans are asked to put to one side any concerns and help ensure manager Jack Ross can field a team that is as competitive as possible next season.
Adie reports that many HSL members whose direct debits had expired have been back in touch to resurrect their direct debit payments. New members worried about the club’s future in the difficult financial climate have also come on board in promising numbers since the start of this week.
“We are taking responsibility for our club,” said Adie. “In a sense we are part owners of the club and with that comes responsibility. We feel we have a duty to step up to the plate both as part owners and supporters. That’s a perfectly reasonable position to have.
“The club has made sacrifices over the years to build the stadium,” he added. “We want to make sure we don’t lose that advantage gained. If we can give the club an extra £400,000, that would be a fantastic thing.”