Bill Foley opens Hibs talks as Bournemouth's American owner targets minority stake to make them SPFL's third force

American billionaire Bill Foley has opened talks with Hibs over buying a minority stake in the Easter Road club.

The Bournemouth owner believes he can make the Leith outfit Scotland’s outright third force - and recruit stars who would be destined for the Cherries into the bargain.

Using a model based on analytics which has proved successful at his stable of sports giants which also includes the Vegas Knights ice hockey franchise Foley has big plans for Hibs should he get the green light.

It comes just as the SFA looks at relaxing rules that ban an organisation or individual having a controlling stake in two clubs at the same time. Discussions have began with Hibs’ American owners, the Gordon family, who will remain majority shareholders should a deal be struck.

Foley hopes to build up his empire to include “four or five” sports teams across the globe. He already has a 33 per cent stake in French Ligue 1 club FC Lorient. He believes sharing expertise on and off the field can help drive Hibs into the best of the rest category in Scotland and secure European football every season.

The 78-year-old CEO of Black Knight Sports and Entertainment could also bring in a new technical director and has spoken openly about his interest in buying into a Scottish club recently. Speaking on the Men in Blazers podcast he said: “I’m fascinated by the Scottish Premiership.

“They play hard, Scots are tough. They play a tough brand of football. And I believe there are opportunities to make one of the No. 4, 5 or 6 SPL teams to get them to No.3 and they play in Europe.

“I believe we can pull that off with not a gigantic investment – and be a minority investor, be supportive of that club. And then work on sponsorship together because we have a