Scottish Championship Side Hibernian Fans Join Forces, Reject Board Blueprint

Scottish Championship side Hibernian supporters groups on Tuesday joined forces to "reject the club's new share buying scheme," according to Colin Duncan of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. Hands on Hibs and BuyHibs "both questioned whether the board were serious about moving to community ownership." Last week, Chair Rod Petrie and CEO Leeann Dempster launched Hibernian Supporters Limited with MSP Kenny MacAskill appointed to "oversee the process." The body aimed to raise up to £2.5M ($3.8M) from fans to buy a 51% shareholding and for them to "assume majority control." But both HOS and BuyHibs have "urged fans to opt out, claiming proposals lack transparency," while HoB has written to Hibs Owner Tom Farmer. An HOS statement said, "Without total transparency, no fans should donate to this scheme." And after a meeting with MacAskill, BuyHibs "also urged fans to be cautious." The statement said, "Our future deserves more than a rush job, it requires full transparency and full engagement with all fans" (DAILY RECORD, 1/21).