Hibernian fans' chief Paul Kane has called on club owner Sir Tom Farmer to hand control to the Edinburgh outfit's supporters before it "sinks even lower".

The Forever Hibernian campaign boss has been leading demands for change at Easter Road ever since the club was relegated to the Scottish Championship.

Now after urging the club's supporters to join the 2000 participants who have already taken part in survey which calls for "radical change" at the Leith club, Kane has again called on Farmer to cede power to a new fan-backed consortium.

He said: "This is a pivotal moment in Hibs' history. The club is on its knees and our fear is it will sink even lower. We didn't think the mismanagement could get any worse, but it has.

"Neither Sir Tom Farmer or [non-executive chairman] Rod Petrie are football people. Even the new chief executive Leeann Dempster has admitted Hibs are run as a corporate entity rather than a football club and has lost touch with its fans.

"After relegation last May, around 2,000 fans attended a rally at Easter Road calling for Petrie to step down and Sir Tom Farmer to take action, but the club chose to ignore the fans.

"The campaign held back over the summer as two different groups had entered into talks with the club about a possible takeover. One, involving David Low and former club chairman Malcolm McPherson, was rejected at the end of July.

"The other group including myself, Kenny McLean and like-minded Hibs fans involved a 51 per cent shareholding for the fans. I met with Sir Tom and further meetings were held but we hit a brick wall as Petrie kept shifting the goalposts and we felt our good faith was not reciprocated.

"We know there is one party still trying to do a deal but we have decided now to go down a different route with supporters in the key role.

"Sir Tom Farmer has always claimed he saved the club for the community. We are now offering him the chance to live up to these words."