The Bournemoty owner’s investment in the capital club is yet to be rubber stamped by the Scottish Football Association.
Despite Bill Foley’s willingness to plough cash into Hibs, the club insist they will still call the transfer shots.
The American businessman is set to pump £6million into the Easter Road coffers, should the SFA give his investment the green light. The governing body are currently in talks with the Hibees as they determine whether the Bournemouth owner’s buy in satisfies “dual interest” rules. Foley also has an interest in french Ligue 1 outfit Lorient, is launching an A-League franchise in Auckland and is in talks with a Dutch club over investing there.
Where Hibs fit into the hierarchy is not yet clear, but the Edinburgh Evening News reports that club chiefs are keen to stress that the won’t become a feeder club to Bournemouth and will have the final say on new players arriving in the capital. Chief executive and head of recruitment Ian Gordon met with Hampden blazers last week and reassured them that there is no scope for Foley to buy a controlling interest in Hibs.
As for the £6million windfall coming their way, it’s unlikely Nick Montgomery will see any of that in time for the January transfer window. Much of the cash will be used to upgrade the stadium and East Mains training base rather than be ploughed into the first tea, recruitment budget.
That means Montgomery will be working with the budget he promised when accepting the job. It’s likely he’ll have to move players on before bringing his own in.