Ged Nixon, the Livingston chief executive, has been left unconvinced by the prospect of a club run by its supporters as the Foundation of Hearts group continue their efforts to take control at Tynecastle, with the Edinburgh club in the grip of administration.
Nixon acted as the spokesperson for the Livi For Life fans' trust before he joined the board in 2009 after the West Lothian side emerged from administration for the second time in its history.
There would seem to be parallels between that situation three years ago and what is unfolding at Hearts this summer and Nixon has accepted that supporters hold the Scottish Premier League club's future in their hands. However, he is unsure of the wisdom of fan ownership – citing the difficulties experienced by the board at Dundee this month as a result of the protracted investment offer from a consortium in the United States.
The Dundee Supporters Society hold a majority stake in the club and three directors not affiliated with the group quite the Dens Park board after the offer from Keyes Capital was rejected by fans.
"I don't know how the structure at Dundee works but it seems to be struggling to go along there, people are having to work with their hands tied behind their backs to a certain degree," said Nixon, whose own club yesterday announced a three-year sponsorship deal with Energy Assets Group. "Ultimately, somebody needs to call the shots.
"I've yet to see signs of it actually working in this country. Hearts will sort themselves out; they're a massive club and they will get over the line. But fans running the club from top to bottom? I'm not quite sure how that will work."
Nixon did express a belief that fans must be allowed to become more involved in how a club is run, and not simply be used as a source of income. "You can't just keep going to the well, which is what Hearts have done for a considerable time now," he said. "The supporters at Hearts have been defrauded to some degree. That's unfair."
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