Guinness Guzzler
Striker
I don't think using the word "hope" negates it mind. We'd can all say we hope, because we've got no part in the process. If kld hopes to get it done imminently, when he's completely aware of our current progress, it suggests (or should suggest) that he thinks we're nearly in a position to get it announced. If we were still doing interviews, as opposed to finalising the last few terms etc, then he'd have no realistic hope of it being imminent.
It's not like it's something he's said off the cuff. It's a written statement. When you know people are frustrated with the time it's taken and the seeming inability to attract our top however many targets, you'd read over it and think "maybe they'll focus on the use of imminent and assume it means we're actually near to announcing something". Using the term, even with "hope" before it, and then seeing it drag on for however long it does doesn't reflect well on him.
It's not like it's something he's said off the cuff. It's a written statement. When you know people are frustrated with the time it's taken and the seeming inability to attract our top however many targets, you'd read over it and think "maybe they'll focus on the use of imminent and assume it means we're actually near to announcing something". Using the term, even with "hope" before it, and then seeing it drag on for however long it does doesn't reflect well on him.