Career
He is remembered mainly for improving the fortunes of during the early 1980s. This culminated in coming within 10 minutes of winning the championship in 1986. Mercer is also remembered for his attempt in 1990 to merge the two major Edinburgh clubs, and Hibs.
Mercer reasoned that the Old Firm had far greater financial power than either Edinburgh club and that the only way to realistically compete was with a united Edinburgh club
Hibs fans suspected that the "merger" was more of a takeover by and they strongly resisted Mercer"s bid to acquire a majority share in Hibs. Mercer was eventually forced to abandon his plans as some key shareholders refused to sell to him, denying him the level of shareholding needed to liquidate Hibs.
Sir Tom Farmer eventually took financial control of Hibs instead. The statement also claimed that the increased dominance of the Old Firm since 1990 had vindicated the proposal.
Mercer died of cancer on 17 January 2006.
The timing of his death caused a point of controversy because " next home match was an Edinburgh derby against Hibs.