Proclaimers relieved right hands are on Hibs, 20 years after Mercer battle

• The Reid brothers of the Proclaimers flank ex-Marillion frontman Fish to promote the Hands Off Hibs 20th Anniversary

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"I'd hate to see Hearts go down and I'll tell you why – Hibs are underachievers and if Hearts were to go to the wall it would be awful for Scottish football and bad for Hibs," he said. "The pressure that came after Hearts won the Scottish Cup a few years ago inspired Hibs to go on and win the League Cup. I think there is something within the dynamics of a city with two clubs where they do feed off each other."

Hibs were susceptible to takeover two decades ago because the group of companies which included the football club were in debt. For all the efforts of thousands of supporters, without the financial input and subsequent takeover by Tom Farmer the campaign to stop Mercer might not have succeeded. Hibs have driven their debt down since then, and Reid believes that should be a lesson to Hearts.

"If I was a Hearts supporter I would be very concerned about the future. For the life of me I don't know how they are still functioning. Running up massive debt is not a good idea. I think over the last 20 years Hibs could have brought in more investment on a smaller scale.

"But what happened there with someone taking over and promising the earth – not a good idea. I think Hearts are relatively in the same position now as we were then. They obviously have a very rich man behind them. But if he decided to move out . . . and he seems very volatile.

"That's the great thing about Farmer. I have had my differences with him at times, but he has stuck it out and not been volatile."

The stability which Hibs have enjoyed in recent years is in stark contrast to the position they found themselves in 20 years ago, when the playing staff spent some of the summer not knowing whether they would have a job to go back to.

"There were seven of us on holiday in Kavos, one of the Greek islands," defender Gordon Hunter recalled yesterday when asked where he was on learning the news that a takeover was on the cards. "One of the boys went and got a paper, as you normally do. We were shocked. But we made a few phone calls and were told not to worry about it, more or less – enjoy the rest of your holidays. There was nothing you could do.

"It's kind of difficult when you don't know what you're coming back to. We never thought it was going to be the end, but you're never really 100 per cent sure."

Hunter, who spent 14 years as a Hibs player, was in the team which won the League Cup in 1991 – a result he attributes in part to the improved morale which resulted from the successful fight against the attempted takeover.

"It wasn't a great time on the park. But what we did after it, going on to win the League Cup in 1991 – I'm not saying it was a good thing that the attempted takeover happened, but it did happen, and you could look on the cup win in that way. The players did feel that when we came back to pre-season after a huge shock like that. We did really well that season – I think we tailed off towards the end of it, but winning the cup was something we hadn't done since the '70s."

Unsurprisingly, neither Hunter nor Reid is pleased with the form their team has shown over the past three months, but both believe that manager John Hughes deserves more time to mould the side. "I was delighted when Yogi came in," Hunter said. "I still think he's going about things the right way. Over the season you're always going to get a bad spell, but I think things will turn around. The squad is too good to continue the way they're going, and they'll start picking up again."

Reid agreed that the manager deserved the continued support of the fans. "I back Yogi 110 per cent," he said. "You have got to give a manager time and I think it's a classic thing we criticise Celtic and Rangers for, they don't give them time. I think we have to see what he does next season. I am still optimistic." The Proclaimers will be joined at the 9 June concert by Fish out of Marillion, the Bum Clocks, The 10.04s, and comedians Bill Barclay and Eric Davidson. The evening will be compered by Grant Stott of Radio Forth.

Hands Off Hibs 20th Anniversary: The Hibs Go Marching On takes place at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, on 9 June. Proceeds will be split between Alzheimer Scotland and Hibs Former Players Association. Tickets, priced 20 and 25, are available from www.seetickets.com, www. tickets-scotland.com, or Ripping Records of Edinburgh.