RON GORDON insists Hibernian’s ambitions should be limitless after he completed a multi-million pound takeover of the Edinburgh club.
The US-based businessman has bought out the majority shareholding of Sir Tom Farmer and Rod Petrie and pumped a ‘seven-figure investment’ into the Easter Road outfit.
The change of ownership, which sees Gordon replace Petrie as chairman, has also wiped out the club’s debt of around £3 million, which was owed to Farmer in the form of a mortgage that was not scheduled to be cleared for another six years.
Gordon, born in Peru but with Scottish ancestors from the Highland village of Tomintoul, has made his money in America after setting up ZGS Communications, a TV production company serving the Spanish-speaking community.
Having founded the firm with $200, Gordon sold it to Comcast/NBC Universal for a reported $75 million in 2017.
The 63-year-old has been a football fan since childhood but admits he has much to learn about the game in Scotland and the running of one of its foremost clubs.
Hibs’ new owner does, however, know plenty about the Premiership’s current monopoly and insists his new charges’ sights should be set on at least trying to break Celtic’s dominance.
AMBITION
“I don’t think there should be a limit to the ambition here,” he said whilst refusing to confirm or deny whether the £6 or £7 million mooted as his investment was even ‘a ballpark’ figure.
“That is not to say that we can win the championship, as it is not so easy, but we need to start making progress. It is a process of going to the next level and the next level after that.
“I don’t think you can go from A-Z without going through all the letters. We need to do that. I am not saying we are too far away, as the club is already in a great place, but getting to the top of the Scottish Premiership is a big ask.
“It is totally an ambition and it needs to be an ambition. I don’t think we should ever give up on that ambition.
“I don’t think it necessarily a good thing that a club like Celtic wins every year. It does not do the game any good.
“It’s great for Celtic and congratulations to them but I think it would be good for the game to have a more competitive league.”
