Fair enough Smurf – since you had the courtesy to respond, I’ll give you some of my thoughts too, although I don’t expect a lot of folk to agree with them!
My expectations of the Board are different. I remember Rodders being told at an AGM that Hibs should target a top 4 place every year – his response was why shouldn’t we target top spot. Bit of a no win really. The Gunts made some expensive and pish signings, players and coaches – doe the Gunt Board get a kicking for that? Does Anne Budge?
I agree about poor comms from Hibs, (especially Rodders – who hates the PR role quite obviously) and I also agree that the team has been underperforming. But I hold the paid executive responsible for that. And the players. The Board doesn’t sign or coach players, and I think (at last) we may have a consensus that the club actually DOES back managers and spends what it can to do so.
I don’t believe that a Board of unpaid volunteers should be running our club on a day to day basis, or indeed be involved in the football side. Frank and Tracey were given the same ‘power’ as other Board members as I recall it – are they to blame for poor signings or for us parting company with our management team in the middle of the transfer window?
I say these responsibilities lie with the well paid staff charged with the day to day running of the club. The team responsible for identifying and signing players – the Chief Executive who is responsible for running the club, and hiring and firing.
The Board won’t want a ‘rookie’ they will want the best person they can get. Suggesting that they don’t want someone challenging just wrong. Do you think they didn’t realise Neil Lennon would be a bit of a challenge? Or did they show a bit ambition and go for a manager who they thought could drive the club onwards and upwards? If they wanted a ‘yes man’ as many suggest, then Leeann would not have selected Lennon, or her choice would have been knocked back. Lennon is easily the most volatile man in Scottish football.
I’m not happy that we are still very short in depth in the playing pool – but I don’t hold the Board responsible. I hold the football department responsible.
We made a few signings without a manager – good. I hope the signings made will be given a positive reception by most Hibs fans.
I’m sure we all want the same thing – Hibs to be a success.
I don’t think the Board wins honours though – the players and the football department are the ones to do so.
I don’t know what ‘empty positivity’ means – but I suspect I probably disagree with it anyway.