Nostalgia: Hibee ending to Mercer's takeover bid

Published on Saturday 17 April 2010 11:24

THERE must have been quite a few sore heads in Leith on the morning of Saturday, 14 July, 1990.

The day before, news had broken that Wallace Mercer's bid to merge Hibs and Hearts had failed and the Hands Off Hibs campaign had won.

The efforts of HOH chairman Kenny McLean were rewarded with a standing ovation from fans as he made his way to the start of night-long celebrations at the Hibs supporters club. There were tears, singing and horns blaring as fans took in the news.

Now, almost 20 years on, some of the Easter Road club's most passionate supporters are coming out in force to pay tribute to that remarkable campaign.

As the News reported this week, loyal Hibbies Craig and Charlie Reid – better known to the world as The Proclaimers – will be headlining an Usher Hall concert to mark the anniversary, while fellow musician Fish and comedian Bill Barclay will also be performing at the event, hosted by Grant Stott.

Former Hibs legends Eddie Turnbull and Lawrie Reilly are set to appear, as well as current players and former managers.

It was in the June of 1990 that news of the bid emerged for the then financially troubled club. Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer called it a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to create a club big enough to challenge in Europe and the Hearts board unanimously approved the offer.

The plan was that by the 1991-92 season, a merged club would be formed, with a new name, new colours and eventually a new stadium.

But Hibs fans regarded the bid as a hostile takeover and in less than two days after the identity of the 6.1 million bidder was revealed, a campaign group was up and running, with Kenny at its helm, to fight the extinction of the Easter Road side. The day after, 6 June, the Hibs board voted to reject Mercer's offer.

Hibs greats such as Turnbull, Reilly and Bobby Johnstone spoke out against the move. A 50,000-name petition was put together, a rally at Easter Road held, John Leslie, then a Blue Peter presenter, made an appeal on the children's TV programme and questions were raised in the House of Commons.

The search was on for a white knight to rescue the club from Hearts – although many Hearts fans also opposed the move.

Step forward Sir Tom Farmer, still the club's majority shareholder and who will be a guest of honour at the concert. By acquiring controlling interest in the club, he blocked the takeover.

Kenny McLean died 15 years ago but his son, also Kenny, 61, says: "My father went to see Tom Farmer and what happened between them I'll never know, but Sir Tom decided to come on board."

The rest, as they say, is history.