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Kenny McLean jnr, the son of former Hibs’ Vice Chairman Kenny Mclean who was instrumental in saving the club when Wallace Mercer tried to take over almost 25 years ago, yesterday made a passionate speech to a packed Hibs’ Supporters Club attacking the stewardship of club chairman Rod Petrie.

McLean is part of the ‘Petrie Out’ campaign along with Supporters Association Chairman Mike Riley and former Hibs’ midfielder Paul Kane.

The group were formed following the club’s drop into the Championship although feelings have been running high for some time and Sunday’s game was the catalyst.

The meeting was called by Kane after the group had an unsuccessful meeting with the board on Thursday, and was attended by representatives from numerous supporters clubs and other organisations linked to the club.

An emotional McLean told the fans: “I’m delighted to see such a great support and particularly the number of young guys here. I’m here to represent that auld guys unfortunately.

“The meeting yesterday, I have to say was positive. I was asked to ask Petrie one question and one question only. I’ll tell you exactly what I said to him and exactly what the answer was. I said ‘Rod, I am here with the backing of the vast majority of Hibs supporters and I want you to resign immediately and sever all your connection and ties with Hibernian Football Club. It’s a simple question and it needs a simple answer, Yes or No. (He replied) ‘Categorically, I’m not resigning.’

“So that was me, I was the messenger and I’ve come back to give you the message.

“As I was driving home I said to myself. ‘Not again.’ Then I was sitting having a cup of tea and I put the (Hands off Hibs) video on and seen my auld man there with Charlie Reid (Proclaimers) who is here today and I am delighted to see him. That’s how much feeling people have for this club.

“Dad is dead unfortunately, Joe Baker kissing the grass, Pat Stanton, and I can tell you right now. Pat Stanton phoned us this morning. The man, the main man is 100% behind this campaign, so there you go, if it is good enough for Pat Stanton it is good enough for me.

“I have a statement here that the board of directors and Rod Petrie read to us, the supporters in 2008.

“This is what’s going to take us forward. Three points: One successful. The Board is determined to see Hibernian compete in the upper echelon of Scottish Football, achieve European Football on a regular basis and remain secure for future generations with a class infrastructure.

“Number Two; Exciting. We want to play an entertaining brand of football and provide entertainment for every supporter who invests in a ticket for a match or a season ticket and lastly Sustainable. Because we must always remember that the long term sustainability of the club is paramount.

“Well let me tell you something. They (The Board) put out a statement last night and do you know what he (Rod Petrie) has the audacity to say to us? And he mentioned it to Radio Forth this morning? We are starving the club? I’ll tell you there is only one person that has starved this club. He has starved us of our heart, he has starved us of our support, he has put us down and people are laughing at us and we are going nowhere. We are on our knees and most importantly he has starved us of Premier League football and it is up to us, the supporters to support this campaign to get the club back to where it belongs. We should be in the tip two, three or four in Scottish football. That’s a given.

“So I say to you, we have a new woman (Leeann Dempster) coming in on Monday and I want to speak to her. I don’t know her. I wish her 100% all the best, but if she is in, Petrie out. Petrie out and don’t come back.”

Afterwards, Kane called on all Hibs’ supporters to gather outside the West Stand next Saturday at 11.30 to show their support for the campaign.

 

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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.