The crisis at the capital's two football clubs is bad news for Scottish football.
The revolving managerial door at Hibs needs regular oiling, having seen seven bosses whizz through it in ten years.
Meantime, down Gorgie way, Vladimir Romanov's often zany stewardship of Hearts is surely heading to a conclusion.
Hearts and Hibs are two great Scottish institutions, who have underachieved in recent years.
Each has a potentially huge support base in Scottish terms, and given Edinburgh's financial status as a city, it is a surprise that neither has been able to mount a more robust challenge to the Old Firm.
A strong Hearts and Hibs is good for Edinburgh...and for Scottish football. Photo: SNS
They should both certainly be able to see off the challenge from the likes of Dundee United and Motherwell given their much superior resources, yet a look at the Scottish Premier League table tells its own story.
Only a few seasons ago I covered a game at Tannadice, where Hearts brought around 5,000 supporters with them.
That kind of backing matches anything the Old Firm bring on their travels and it is testimony to the pulling power of a Tynecastle side in its pomp.
Hibs, too, can attract a huge support when they are at the top of their game.
The support that both clubs can generate provides a huge economic boost for themselves and the game in general.
But, equally important, our game needs the atmosphere and passion that a packed Easter Road and Tynecastle bring.
When those two grounds are heaving with humanity there is a dramatic sense of occasion, which is as good as can be found anywhere.
For the sake of Scottish football, let's hope those in charge at the two clubs make sensible decisions in the days and weeks ahead to restore the two clubs to capital health.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jimspence/2011/11/scottish_football_needs_two_st.html
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