Edinburgh Evening News, 18th May 1999

Fan fivers will buy Hibs another Jacko

Trust aim to raise £1m a year for new McLeish players
By David Hardie

Hibs fans could buy Easter Road boss Alex McLeish "a Darren Jackson a season" by pledging a fiver a month to a new supporters' initiative.

The Erin Community Trust believe that in the long-term they could be pumping more than £1m a year into the Easter Road club. As revealed in Friday's Evening News, the newly launched Trust has an ambitious plan to take a 25 per cent stake in Hibs and to provide future investment for the club.

Already the Trust has had around 200 enquiries from interested fans. Within 24 hours of the launch more than 100 fans world-wide had responded and it is hoped at least 3000 could join in the first year.

The Trust has received the backing of former Hibs star Craig Paterson whose father, Jock, was a member of the "Famous Five" side. Pointing out the Trust's target of raising up to £300,000 in it's first year, Paterson said: "That's what Hearts, who looked like they were heading for the first division, paid for Darren Jackson, who helped turn their season round.

"That shows that amount of money can make a difference."

Jillian Binnie, the Trust's spokesperson, agreed that many fans would see raising funds for the club as the responsibility of the board alone, as supporters already made a massive contribution through admission costs and buying merchandising. But she argued: "The fans have a role to play as well. It is a chance for everybody to come together and try to do the best for the future of Hibs.

"Our fans have been brilliant over this season. I can't imagine another club in the country which, in similar circumstances, would have had the crowds which went to Easter Road.

"The phenomenal support they gave the club is another indication of what can be achieved." Binnie said that while fans would be encouraged to commit a minimum of £5 a month to the Trust, businesses which might be in a position to contribute more would also be asked.

The Trust will seek a 25 per cent stake in the club to give the fans a more direct say in the running of the club, but they have ruled out seeking a seat on the board, Binnie saying: "We are not a bunch of glory hunters."

Money raised by the initiative, the first of its kind in Scotland - although a similar scheme runs with huge success at Barcelona - would be overseen by five trustees. Binnie said: "We'll consider anything which is for the benefit of Hibernian Football Club, whether it is training facilities, ground redevelopment or helping provide money for the manager.

"We may, for example, invest in other, non-football, areas, and use any proceeds of these investments for the good of the club and the supporters. We will, of course, seek professional advice throughout, but the important thing is that we will be independent of the club

" Binnie added: "We have been encouraged by the number of inquiries already received, particularly through the internet, which is allowing Hibs fans from all over the world to come together. Many of them left Edinburgh perhaps 20 years ago".

The web site is http://www.erintrust.org, or fans can write to PO Box 738, Edinburgh, EH14 5ZB, e-mail info@erintrust.org.