Evening News, 26th May 1999

Hibs fans in war of words over Trust
By David Hardie

A groundbreaking fans' trust which ultimately hopes to raise £1 million a year for Hibs today hit back at claims that supporting their aims would be "tantamount to burning money".

The Erin Community Trust has claimed that by pledging £5 a month Hibs fans can help bring new players to Easter Road, hoping to raise £300,000 in its first year and eventually seven-figures sums for manager Alex McLeish. But their proposal has been attacked by Charlie Reid, honorary president of the pressure group Hands on Hibs, who, in a letter to the Evening News, asked: "Why should the fans bail the club out again?"

Proclaimers star Reid claimed that asking the fans to contribute shifted attention away from Sir Tom Farmer's stewardship as owner of Hibs, the pressure group having consistently called for him to either invest heavily in the club or sell out. He said: "The truth is that Hibs need either a new owner with a commitment to building the club, or a profound change of heart from Sir Tom

"Without either of these things happening, I would advise those well-meaning but deeply misguided Hibees to keep their spare cash, and build it into a pile for burning on bonfire night. It would do as much good for the club that way as handing it to Sir Tom."

But today Stuart Crowther, convenor of the Trust's management committee, said he was "both surprised and disappointed" at what he described as Reid's "ill-informed and inaccurate statement." Crowther, himself once a member of the HoH committee, said: "The aims of the trust are and will always be to increase the influence that ordinary Hibs supporters have with their football club.

"Indeed, to borrow the motto of Hands on Hibs, we are committed to making Hibs great again. We are interested only in investing in Hibernian, and in so doing increasing the competitiveness of the club in the Premier League. Our aims are to help provide financial backing form the one group of people that truly care for Hibernian, the supporters. Standing together we can make a difference, we are asking Hibs fans to go that extra mile, and we believe that they will be prepared to do so.

"Charlie Reid has claimed that by burning their money, Hibs fans would do more good than handing it to Sir Tom Farmer. I would like to reiterate one of the most fundamental principles of the Trust, that the proceeds from every penny invested would go directly to Hibernian Football Club and nowhere else."

And Crowther claimed that the Trust actually had the support of HoH, adding: "During many months of planning, we spoke to a number of supporters' organisations, including Hands on Hibs, and sought their views. All have expressed support and many have offered practical assistance. Indeed, it was at a meeting with Hands on Hibs committee members that the Trust received their first expressions of support.

"We aim to draw together the vast experience of the Hibernian community as we see this as the only way forward for Hibernian. We would welcome discussions with Charlie Reid or indeed any person with the interests of Hibernian uppermost in their minds."

Crowther claimed that the initial response to the Trust's launch had surpassed all expectations with 300 e-mail inquiries having been received in 12 days, leading them to believe that membership could quickly soar over 3000. He said: "We also have a post box which we haven't been near yet but all the initial indications are encouraging. We now plan to send up to 3000 letters directly to Hibs fans explaining what we are about and seeking their support."