Former Hibs chairman Tom O’Malley passes away after lengthy illness

Hugely respected head teacher and devoted Hibee oversaw promotion to top flight in 1999

Former Hibs chairman Tom O'Malley. Pic: TSPL

Lifelong fan and former Hibs chairman Tom O’Malley passed away on Friday following a lengthy illness.

The former head teacher of St David’s RC High School at Dalkeith joined the Hibs board in 1991. He was a staunch supporter of the Hands Off Hibs campaign which eventually thwarted Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer’s attempts to merge the Capital clubs and when Tom Farmer completed his takeover of the Easter Road side, O’Malley was appointed as one of the directors.

Months later – and much to O’Malley’s delight – the club won the Skol Cup final, lifting silverware for the first time in almost 20 years.

He later replaced Lex Gold as chairman after the club was relegated in 1998, telling fans that “there is now one of their own in charge of the club”.

“I saw my first Hibs match back in 1946,” he said at the time. “I have been around this club a long time. I know it’s history, it’s culture. The club is in safe Hibernian hands.”

An amiable figure who was awarded the OBE for services to education, he did stir up some controversy in the wake of that relegation by suggesting supporters may see a season in the second tier as “an adventure”, but he was forgiven as the team - under the guidance of manager Alex McLeish – clinched promotion at the first time of asking.

Just five days after Hibs were presented with the First Division trophy, though, he announced he was stepping down, claiming that with the club’s top flight status regained and plans in place for the club’s future, the time was right for him to retire into a “life of relative obscurity”.

Due to ill health he was unable to attend Hibs’ momentous 2016 Scottish Cup final triumph, but he was able to lift the trophy when the Persevered Tour made a special stop at his home.

Current chairman Ronald J Gordon said: “Everyone at the club is saddened by the news. I didn’t ever have the pleasure of meeting Tom O’Malley, but those who knew him tell me he was devoted to the club and a real gentleman. Our thoughts are with his family and his friends.”