This week’s news that the club has ended it’s two-year association with the Bournemouth owner’s group shocked supporters.
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Hibs legend John Brownlie has backed the decision to cut ties with the Black Knights – insisting no minority investor should dictate what happens at Easter Road.
But the 1972 League Cup winner hopes the breakdown of the relationship with Bill Foley’s organisation doesn’t put Hibs chiefs off exploring future tie-ins with clubs in a bid to strengthen their hand.
This week’s shock news saw Hibs’ American owners buy back Bournemouth supremo Foley’s shares after agreeing the 21-month partnership wasn’t working.
Foley, through his Black Knights group, had purchased a 25 per cent stake in the club just under two years ago. But the billionaire’s vision for Hibs to become part of a feeder club network for his Premier League outfit saw the relationship break down.
MailSport understands Hibs are open to exploring future investment options – although the Gordon family are not currently seeking a replacement for billionaire Foley’s group and are committed to moving Hibs forward on their terms.
Brownlie, who made over 300 appearances for the club including the 1972 victory over Celtic at Hampden, had hoped the partnership could move Hibs to another level.
But the former Scotland and Newcastle United defender insists it could never survive without being a two-way street.
Brownlie told MailSport : “I think they have made the right decision. It’s alright bringing investors on board but they cannot oversee everything. That’s not on.
“If it’s going to be a joint thing then make sure it is a joint thing. Don’t have others dictating to them.
“I had thought everything had been going along nicely. But clearly underneath it wasn’t.
“This is the right thing for the Gordon family to do. I think they are here for the long term. The club is part of their DNA now and I’m pretty sure they will look to get another investor in.
“They have good contacts. You don’t get involved in these things if you don’t.”
The Bournemouth link may have broken but Brownlie hopes Hibs don’t rule out future tie-ins with clubs outwith Scotland.
The former Arbroath, East Stirling and Cowdenbeath manager says one look across the capital to where Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s investment has helped Hearts soar is proof of what’s possible.
He said: “It’s the age we’re in now. If you look across the city and see Hearts, they are doing something right.
“If it’s going to bring better players to the club then yes, partnerships can definitely be a good idea. But you have to bring in better players.”
Prominent Hibs fans have also backed their club’s move to cut ties with the Cherries – with one insisting to MailSport that the Leith club is bigger than Bournemouth.
Foley spoke last week about his bid to find more feeder clubs for the EPL side in a system where his group hire the sporting director, coach and analysts.
But Matty Fairnie of the Longbangers HIbs podcast said: “I don’t think many people were comfortable with becoming a feeder club.
“Although I think the connotations of being a feeder club are worse than the reality at that level.
“If you look at the detail of what the Black Knights wanted to do, it was almost to replicate what they did at Bournemouth. So you’ve got the analytics, you’ve got the recruitment team, the coaches. It’s all set up to succeed.
“If it works and Hibs were winning every week and we were developing young players and selling them for a bit of money, I don’t think anybody’s questioning it.
“But if it doesn’t work, it’s awful. It’s the worst thing because you’re almost selling your soul for it. I don’t think any Hibs fan wants that.
“I’ve been speaking to people and almost unanimously they are on board with the decision to cut ties.
“We’re historically a bigger club than Bournemouth. They might have more money and richer owners and all the rest of it.
“But in terms of history, it should be the other way around. But circumstances dictate it’s not that way around.
“I actually think there’s a fair bit to be said for Ian Gordon for standing his ground.
“The Gordon family have put a lot of money into the club. They clearly want the best for Hibs.
Hibernian chairman Ian Gordon, sporting director Malky Mackay and chief executive Dan Barnett
“HIbs are in a pretty good place. It’s a night and day for where we were a couple of years ago. The football’s generally pretty good.
“We’re sitting in third. It’s not been a bad start to the season at all. A couple of results that could have went our way that didn’t.
“David Gray’s done a great job. Malky Mackay’s supporting him. The recruitment looks like it’s been good.
“I’m just waiting on chasing Hearts down now.”
The lifelong Hibee, however, hopes his club waste no time looking for fresh investment.
He said: “If we don’t do it there’s a danger we get left behind.
“The worry is if you were another party looking at Hibs just now, you’d be looking at what happened with the Black Knights.
“I think we definitely need to be looking at some sort of investment.
“If we want to challenge at the top, we can’t do it on our own.
“I’d be open to it, but certainly not somebody coming in and dictating.”