That was the weekend that was: Hearts sink as Hibs owner seeks merger

THE UNWELCOME spectre of merger plans may be coming back to haunt the Edinburgh rivals, Hearts and Hibernian.

After watching their side scrape a 1-1 draw with Stirling in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, Hibs fans awoke yesterday to the news that the idea of just one team for the Scottish capital is being revived.

Eight years ago, the Hearts owner Wallace Mercer was defeated in his plans to unite the city's clubs, much to the relief of fans in both camps, desperate to preserve their individual identities.

But now, according to reports in the Scottish press, the Hibs owner, the millionaire Sir Tom Farmer, wants Edinburgh United set up at a new stadium, with the 12 acres of prime land at Easter Road - close to the site of the new Scottish parliament - sold for lucrative development.

Both clubs are vulnerable - Hearts owe pounds 6m and Hibs, with debts of some pounds 11m, have been the subject of renewed takeover interest from an American media company, NTL. Supporters will be readying themselves for another fight - but may find the move for change more difficult to resist this time.

Brian Kennedy, a businessman whose own takeover bid for Hibs failed last year, said: "The core problem for Hibs and Hearts is turnover. As long as they are limited to pounds 3m-pounds 4m they will be scraping along, living an up-and-down existence."