DAVID GRAY paid an emotional tribute to former Hibs owner Sir Tom Farmer whose death was announced a few hours before kick-off at Parkhead.
The Hibees boss will always hold on to one special memory of time with the hugely successful businessman who made his fortune through his Kwik-Fit garage chain.
Farmer, who passed away on Friday night aged 84 and owned the Easter Road club for 29-years, did plenty for the Leith outfit off the field.
And Gray said: “Really sad news.
“He’s not kept particularly well for a wee while now.
“But for everything he’s done for the football club, saved the club at a time of need.
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“It’s a sad day for everyone involved in the football club and our thoughts with his family at this time.
“My relationship with him personally, it wasn’t as if I’d seen him all the time, not at all.
“But I did have one real positive meeting with him – and introduction with him – which was straight after the Cup final.
“For everything he’s done for the football club, I’ve seen him on the Sunday and it was a nice moment to be able to present the Scottish Cup to him for everything he’s done – he was a Hibs supporter – and everything he’s been through.
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“All the times he’s probably seen Hibs not win the Scottish Cup and all the pain he went through with that as well, so that was a real privileged moment for myself to be involved with the club on that day.
“I know how much it meant to absolutely everyone that day who was involved with the club, but no more so than him I’m sure.”
Gray wasn’t happy with the first two goals conceded against Celtic – but he still insisted third place is entirely in their hands with two games left against St Mirren and Rangers.
He added: “There’s absolutely no time to feel sorry for ourselves.
“I think there will always be lessons for every game we play, but it’s still very much in our hands.
“I’m quick to remind the players that we’ve got two games to go and, regardless of what anybody else does, if we do what we can do and go and get six points, we will finish third.”
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