Roving_Reporter
New radge
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2015
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Yesterday the talk of the Steamie at Starks Park was the goings on by Chairman Mike Riley and the Trustees of the Hibernian Supporters Association (HSA) with regards to talk of expulsion of St. Pat's from the HSA. Details of what has happened, as outlined to St. Pat's members, has been obtained and reproduced below to explain some of the questions asked.
A source close to the Branch said that 'I am told that the Branch Committee are furious that at a time when all Hibs Supporters should be getting behind the team and building bridges with the Club there are those who would rather conduct an ill thought out petty witch hunt.'
R_R
A serious situation has arisen over the past period, as eluded to at our last Branch meeting. To recap for those not present, Chairperson Dougie McLeod prior to the end of business and the entrance of our two Turnbull's Tornadoes speakers that night, John Brownlie and John Blackley, informed the 50 members present of a meeting which had taken place along with Branch Secretary Gordon McKinley and the 5 Trustees of the Hibernian Supporters Association/Club a few weeks previously. The meeting was suggested by our Branch Committee in order to explain in a friendly manner the reasoning behind our proposed changes to further modernise and HSA rulebook (see attachment). This was intended to help prevent any misunderstanding at the Hibernian Supporters Association AGM, on Sunday the 5th of April.
Within a fairly short period of discussion HSA Chairperson Mike Riley was accusing our Branch of all sorts and behaving quite frankly in a manner not befitting a person in his position. At one point he reacted to the suggestion by a fellow Trustee that 'some people out there, would like St. Pat's expelled from the Association' by hissing 'and we have the f****** power to do that'. To his credit HSA Treasurer Colin Rich said they could not do that. At another point when we suggested that the right to amend HSA Rules is enshrined in the Rule book he shouted 'Democracy, I will show you f****** democracy at the AGM'. To which Dougie said that he was acting like a bully and Gordon said that neither he, Dougie nor St. Patrick's Branch members would be bullied by him. The swearing continued and Gordon asked that he refrain from doing so twice. He said that he did not have to f****** listen to this and stormed out of the meeting.
The other four Trustees did not follow him out and continued to have a calm, reasoned meeting where on some items we agreed to disagree.
Whilst we were having our very successful Branch meeting someone pointed out that the Trustees were having a meeting upstairs with the Officials of a minority of Supporters Branches at the same time as ours and of which we had neither been informed of nor invited to.
It transpired subsequently that this meeting which was purported to be to discuss St. Patrick's resolutions, however inevitably became a vehicle to discuss the apparent obsession that HSA Chairperson Mike Riley has with the possible expulsion of our Branch from the HSA. It should be remembered that at last years AGM he had to deny the accusation from a Branch member, that he had raised expulsion of St. Patrick's Branch with her and others . At their meeting they also discussed the need to take legal advice, as to whether they could actually expel us ( It seems our presence to defend any allegations, Natural Justice at Law, nor valid and sufficient reason to progress this, crossed their minds). Again a big thanks goes out to HSA Treasurer Colin Rich who had the nouse to oppose the suggestion of such calamitous action.
Whether or not this threat to our Branch's very existence transpires, I for one, knowing how much work that I and many others have put in to create our truly active Hibernian Supporters Branch, from 5 members 5 years again to our present membership of 330+ and do not propose to wait or sit back and let this happen and am sure that you will all feel the same way.
We, as you know have been working with Hibernian FC at every level we possibly can and feel that at a time when Hibs seem to be turning the corner, a Semi Final and possibly a Final within our grasp, promotion back to where we belong a real possibility and good new initiatives being introduced by the Hibernian Management, that anyone engaging in self indulgent statements, or in distractions which take away from this course of action, will not be forgiven by fellow Hibs Supporters.
We have been told that HSA Chairperson Mike Riley and cohorts are straining every sinew to mobilize as many people to attend the AGM on Sunday 5th April at 12.00 as possible. The Branch Committee ask that our members also make an almighty effort to attend this meeting, to ensure that St. Pat's survive any potential attempt at the first witch-hunt of any Branch in the history of the Hibernian Supporters Association.
With farce always comes along irony not far behind. Two weeks ago our Branch Patron and Honorary Branch member Patrick Gordon Stanton presented a gift and an Honorary Branch membership to Sammy Martinez in appreciation of the wee man's 70 years of devotion to Hibernian FC. If some folk have their way the oldest living Hibernian Supporter could become the shortest lived Honorary member!!
A source close to the Branch said that 'I am told that the Branch Committee are furious that at a time when all Hibs Supporters should be getting behind the team and building bridges with the Club there are those who would rather conduct an ill thought out petty witch hunt.'
R_R
A serious situation has arisen over the past period, as eluded to at our last Branch meeting. To recap for those not present, Chairperson Dougie McLeod prior to the end of business and the entrance of our two Turnbull's Tornadoes speakers that night, John Brownlie and John Blackley, informed the 50 members present of a meeting which had taken place along with Branch Secretary Gordon McKinley and the 5 Trustees of the Hibernian Supporters Association/Club a few weeks previously. The meeting was suggested by our Branch Committee in order to explain in a friendly manner the reasoning behind our proposed changes to further modernise and HSA rulebook (see attachment). This was intended to help prevent any misunderstanding at the Hibernian Supporters Association AGM, on Sunday the 5th of April.
Within a fairly short period of discussion HSA Chairperson Mike Riley was accusing our Branch of all sorts and behaving quite frankly in a manner not befitting a person in his position. At one point he reacted to the suggestion by a fellow Trustee that 'some people out there, would like St. Pat's expelled from the Association' by hissing 'and we have the f****** power to do that'. To his credit HSA Treasurer Colin Rich said they could not do that. At another point when we suggested that the right to amend HSA Rules is enshrined in the Rule book he shouted 'Democracy, I will show you f****** democracy at the AGM'. To which Dougie said that he was acting like a bully and Gordon said that neither he, Dougie nor St. Patrick's Branch members would be bullied by him. The swearing continued and Gordon asked that he refrain from doing so twice. He said that he did not have to f****** listen to this and stormed out of the meeting.
The other four Trustees did not follow him out and continued to have a calm, reasoned meeting where on some items we agreed to disagree.
Whilst we were having our very successful Branch meeting someone pointed out that the Trustees were having a meeting upstairs with the Officials of a minority of Supporters Branches at the same time as ours and of which we had neither been informed of nor invited to.
It transpired subsequently that this meeting which was purported to be to discuss St. Patrick's resolutions, however inevitably became a vehicle to discuss the apparent obsession that HSA Chairperson Mike Riley has with the possible expulsion of our Branch from the HSA. It should be remembered that at last years AGM he had to deny the accusation from a Branch member, that he had raised expulsion of St. Patrick's Branch with her and others . At their meeting they also discussed the need to take legal advice, as to whether they could actually expel us ( It seems our presence to defend any allegations, Natural Justice at Law, nor valid and sufficient reason to progress this, crossed their minds). Again a big thanks goes out to HSA Treasurer Colin Rich who had the nouse to oppose the suggestion of such calamitous action.
Whether or not this threat to our Branch's very existence transpires, I for one, knowing how much work that I and many others have put in to create our truly active Hibernian Supporters Branch, from 5 members 5 years again to our present membership of 330+ and do not propose to wait or sit back and let this happen and am sure that you will all feel the same way.
We, as you know have been working with Hibernian FC at every level we possibly can and feel that at a time when Hibs seem to be turning the corner, a Semi Final and possibly a Final within our grasp, promotion back to where we belong a real possibility and good new initiatives being introduced by the Hibernian Management, that anyone engaging in self indulgent statements, or in distractions which take away from this course of action, will not be forgiven by fellow Hibs Supporters.
We have been told that HSA Chairperson Mike Riley and cohorts are straining every sinew to mobilize as many people to attend the AGM on Sunday 5th April at 12.00 as possible. The Branch Committee ask that our members also make an almighty effort to attend this meeting, to ensure that St. Pat's survive any potential attempt at the first witch-hunt of any Branch in the history of the Hibernian Supporters Association.
With farce always comes along irony not far behind. Two weeks ago our Branch Patron and Honorary Branch member Patrick Gordon Stanton presented a gift and an Honorary Branch membership to Sammy Martinez in appreciation of the wee man's 70 years of devotion to Hibernian FC. If some folk have their way the oldest living Hibernian Supporter could become the shortest lived Honorary member!!