Hibs owner Ron Gordon wants club to become leaders of innovation – and NHS strip is just the start

Majority shareholder’s vision for club praised

Hibernian chairman Ron Gordon

Hibs owner Ron Gordon is turning the club into one of the most innovative in UK football, according to the man who followed him into Easter Road.

Greg McEwan was appointed Head of Marketing and Brand Partnerships at the Easter Road club in December, five months after Mr Gordon took over the helm as majority shareholder of the club.

In that time Hibs have been recognised as the Greenest Club in Scotland, made moves towards becoming a cashless stadium, while they also became the first club in the UK to launch a 'Thank You NHS' strip, to much acclaim, last week.

McEwan has been impressed with the Peru-born American's vision for Hibs and says fans can expect more innovations from the club in the future.

"The owner, Ron, who bought the club in July, just wants to do things a bit different. He doesn't want to do the same old, same old," McEwan explained.

"He wants to try new things, be innovative, he wants to lead. Hopefully over the first four or five months we've had we're trying to do that.

"We've been leaders to the market with the Greenest Club in Scotland, because climate action is a massive deal, and something that really needs to be dealt with. It's great that we've led the way with that, and we've got big plans to keep growing that.

"Then to do the NHS strip and be the leaders not just in Scotland, but in the UK. I've ended up on calls with Championship and League One clubs down in England who've got in touch to ask how we managed to do it because everybody is looking at ways to show their support for the frontline.

"It's been great and we just need to keep moving. We don't want to stop and look back. It's what's next, looking forward, and taking each thing as it comes."

One of Mr Gordon's key aims for Hibs - and perhaps his biggest challenge - is to turn the club into a profitable business.

"The big thing Ron always talks about is there's too many clubs in Scotland that just want to break even - 'if you're just breaking even, you're standing still'," McEwan added.

"Ultimately, there's going to be a day when that isn't good enough. You need to be a profitable business to continue to grow.

"You absolutely need to work to your means, and Ron taking over has helped the club. It has paid off the mortgage, put money in the bank, and allowed the club to look forward rather than worrying about where the next pay day is coming from.

"It's allowed us to be that bit innovative. His background is phenomenal and he's certainly a very successful businessman. It's great to work with him and work up some great ideas, and hopefully bring a lot of them to action and see Hibs kick on."