Thirty-five years after Wallace Mercer’s unsuccessful attempt to destroy Hibernian and make Edinburgh a one city club, former Hibs chairman David Duff has finally told the explosive inside story of the plot and the real motivations of those behind it.
Although Mercer claimed his deal would see a merger of the two clubs, everyone knew that their name would be Heart of Midlothian, they would play at Tynecastle Park AND wear maroon.
With internal shareholders wanting to sell out, the end seemed inevitable.
But Duff had other ideas. Joining forces with outraged fans he spearheaded boardroom resistance against this takeover.
A ‘Hands off Hibs’ rally was quickly organised and although under no obligation to do so, Duff handed over the keys of Easter Road Stadium to facilitate the event which was attended by thousands of supporters.
Eventually a ‘white knight’ was found, and Kwik-Fit owner and entrepreneur Tom Farmer was widely credited for saving the club for the people of Leith. But is that the whole story?
Now for the first time, Farmer’s true involvement is put under the microscope.
Sunset on Hibs – The Plot to Destroy Hibernian is jointly written by Duff and acclaimed sportswriter Ewan Flynn with a foreword by journalist and Hibs fan Simon Pia who pulls no punches.
The book covers Duff’s acquisition of the club he loved, along with his brother in law Jim Gray, the highs and lows on and off the pitch, the share issue, European football, plans to move from Easter Road to Straiton, followed by Mercers bid followed by the aftermath.
Duff told The Edinburgh Reporter: “The book was a long time in the making. I actually started during lockdown for an hour every day.
“I wasn’t sure at first whether to rerun everything but decided that it was time to set the record straight by telling what really happened all these years ago.
“Despite everything I’d like to say at the outset that I have no animosity toward either Wallace Mercer or Tom Farmer.
“Both were businessmen and not football supporters. I was a football fan first and just wanted to build a successful team.
“But to be fair, Tom was instrumental in steadying the club. He didn’t do things that I would have done but I’m not saying he was a villain in the story because he wasn’t.
“And if the fans want to hail Tom Farmer as the club’s saviour then so be it, but for me there are far more worthy heroes who wear green and white to Easter Road every other Satuday.”
So after all these years does he have any regrets?
“Regrets? How could a boy from Leith regret becoming chairman of Hibs. I’ll never regret not selling my shares in the club, even though I’d have made a lot of money and honestly, if I had to make the same choice again today I still wouldn’t sell, at any price.
“I have such wonderful memories and so many highlights of my time there.
“Getting John Collins to sign a new contract when everyone thought he was leaving is one. Beating Videoton 3-0 in Hungary is another.
“Then there was Gordon Rae’s testimonial when Manchester United managed by Alex Ferguson visited Easter Road and interestingly at the testimonial dinner The Proclaimers played ‘500 Miles’ for the first time live.
“But signing Stevie Archibald from Barcelona and being at Tynecastle when he scored ‘that’ goal probably tops everything.
“It was quite emotional looking back as I was a big pal of Andy Goram and Peter Cormack, both of whom are sadly no longer with us.
“Peter was my hero on the pitch, and they say you should never meet your heroes but that wasn’t the case with him.”
Co-author Ewan Flynn added: “My dad’s from Warriston and I used to spend the summers in Edinburgh so I’d have been about eight when all this happened.
“It’s such an amazing story with so many layers. In 2020 I interviewed David (Duff) for an article in When Saturday Comes but there is only so much you can fit into 1,000 words.
“He said he had always wanted to tell his story and put his side on the record because he was damaged pretty badly by the event.
“I think he’s been open about his mistakes particularly involving David Rowland and he has carried that bundle ever since, but he genuinely cared about the club.”
