Scottish Championship Side Hibernian Owner Reportedly Weighing Sale To Fan Group

Scottish Championship side Hibernian supporters "are to be asked their views on the possibility of taking control" from Owner Tom Farmer through a "community buyout," according to Alasdair Lamont of the BBC. It "is believed a group, still in the embryonic stage, aims to follow the fan-funded model that helped steer rivals Hearts out of administration." Parties have "expressed an interest in buying Hibs since the Edinburgh club were relegated to the Championship." Farmer has "said before that he would only sell his majority stake to someone with Hibs' best interests at heart." The "understanding is that the new group, assisted by Supporters Direct Scotland (SDS), hopes to bring some of the parties -- including the Paul Kane-led Forever Hibernian -- under a wider umbrella to try to assemble a viable takeover bid." The first step, though, is "simply to canvas Hibs supporters' thoughts on community ownership via an online survey" (BBC, 8/22).