A Game of Two Halves

The commercial transformation has been hugely impressive. First class hospitality offerings and stadium improvements have been well received and popular with supporters, even throughout some barren periods for the “wins” column.
We’ve worked with the commercial team on a range of projects to further enhance the club’s infrastructure and be part of the solid foundation required to be competitive as a modern sports organisation.

However it’s been impossible to ignore the fact that no amount of off-field success changes the long faces on a Saturday evening after the wrong result on matchday. Commercial staff feel it as deeply as the players – some of them more so I’d guess. The on-field performances also directly impact their ability to do their job effectively. For example, try launching a new strip off the back of losing to some European minnow !

Over my career, I’m very conscious that doing a great job as an individual or a sub-team, doesn’t always equate to overall success of the organisation. That’s just business. But not many have this overall success measured so regularly (possible twice a week) It’s a false thermometer in many respects but the only one that really matters to the customer. Sorry, supporter.

I’ve been hugely impressed by the professionalism and effectiveness of the off-field team at Hibs and it’s nice to see a big upturn in smiling faces around the club of late. It’s a true community club and trying to balance that with competing at the highest level of elite sport isn’t straight forward.

Fifteen unbeaten now for Hibs – who saw that coming on that cold Saturday in mid-December versus Ross County.