Hearts Administration: Hibby Fish in benefit gig

ROCK singer Fish is to play a benefit gig for cash-strapped Hearts – despite being a life-long Hibs fan.

The former Marillion frontman thinks everything possible should be done to save the Tynecastle side for the good of football in the Capital.

And in a bid to save the local derby he has agreed to play an acoustic set at the club’s Gorgie Suite on August 7, with all funds raised going to the club.

The 55-year-old, real name Derek Dick, said despite his green-and-white tendencies he is confident fans will turn out to support the event.

He said: “Throughout the years the derbies have raised my blood pressure more than any other game in the fixture calendar, no matter what the league position. I don’t want to lose the local derby.

“I’ve followed the Hibees through thick and thin, followed them down divisions, seen cup wins and cup defeats and can’t forget the near demise of our club in 1990 after we ourselves had suffered from years of financial mismanagement.

“At the time I was helpless on tour in Germany and felt the pain of nearly losing the club I’d followed since I was a boy. A lot of my Hearts supporter friends at the time were vocal in their support for saving Hibs and didn’t want to see the club disappear. The situation has now reversed.”

The Kayleigh singer – who grew up in Dalkeith but now lives in East Lothian – believes he owes his forgiving attitude towards Hearts to his grandfather. He added: “My grandfather William Dick had season tickets for both Hearts and Hibs and watched the alternate home matches.”

Fish fully appreciates he may receive some criticism from Hibbies for his gesture.

“I know there will be a few fellow Hibs fans who disagree with me offering a gig in support but I don’t want to see Hearts disappear, although I want to see a return to a level playing field again.”

Hearts said all funds raised would be used to purchase season tickets to be distributed by Big Hearts in line with the Big Hearts Big Ticket campaign, revealed in yesterday’s Evening News, which will see season tickets given to some of the city’s most deprived 
children.