SM
Barcelona vs. Valencia: 23 hrs 20 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Ron Gordon vows to respect Hibernian traditions after completing takeover

:Headline: Ron Gordon vows to respect Hibernian traditions after completing takeover: ID:363609: from db_amp
The businessman has acquired the majority shareholding of Sir Tom Farmer and Rod Petrie.

United States-based businessman Ron Gordon promised to respect the traditions of Hibernian after his takeover of the Edinburgh club.

The Peru-born broadcasting tycoon, whose Scottish grandfather emigrated to South America in 1908, has acquired the majority shareholding of Sir Tom Farmer and Rod Petrie.

Gordon will assume the role of executive chairman, with recently appointed Scottish Football Association president Petrie resigning from the board.

Hibs say Gordon has also provided a seven-figure cash injection, which has helped the club move debt-free six years ahead of schedule.

He now owns about two-thirds of the club, with supporter shareholders making up the rest.

Gordon said: "I had a great first conversation with Sir Tom. We swapped stories from our childhood and compared our approach to business.

"There are many similarities and those values are evident in Hibernian, not only as an outstanding football club but also its engagement with young people and through the Hibernian Community Foundation. That it is such a well-run club was one of the major attractions for me."

Gordon stressed that continuity was a strength as he backed chief executive Leeann Dempster and head coach Paul Heckingbottom, with his initial thoughts on investment centring on new indoor training facilities and the youth academy.

He added: "Our first priority is to build on the foundations we have at Hibernian, to build a vision and a plan that will take us forward in a way that reflects the legacy, traditions and values of our wonderful club."

Farmer departs after 28 years – he helped save the club twice in the early 1990s, first to avert a hostile takeover from Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer and then a year later to buy the club amid a financial crisis.

The Kwik Fit founder said: "People often asked 'why did you do that?' I had no interest in football.

"I often wondered why. That's the reality. But people had an obsession about football. I had the same obsession about tyres.

"I got involved because three people approached me and told me a wonderful tale about how important the football club was to the community. It struck a chord.

"I have no regrets at all.

"When I got involved the club was bust. It had nothing except a lot of supporters and a team of people on the board of directors who were  obsessed with their club and wanted to put things right.

"I look back over 28 years and see what's been achieved – a stadium that's the envy of so many football clubs and a state-of-the-art training ground."

Farmer added he had quickly got hooked on football and recounted his favourite moment, when Hibs won the Scottish Cup for the first time in 114 years in 2016.

"I can say that I am the same as 100,000 people who turned out on the streets of Edinburgh the day after to share the joy of the club at last bringing the Scottish Cup home," he added.

Sir Tom hailed the supporters, players and directors for driving the club forward with his support.

He added: "They made it happen. And I must pay tribute to one person – 22 years Rod Petrie has been involved. He has been the driving force and stood up and shielded me from the bullets.

"There have been approaches over the years, and we have done them all the courtesy of hearing what they had to say. Ron's passion for Hibernian and its origins and his commitment to the community and the engagement he wants with supporters shone through."

amp_article__363609 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-07-02 20:29:07:
html db last update - 2021-02-10 03:01:08 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Ron Gordon

Click here for more stories about Hibernian

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .