STRICKEN FAN’S PLIGHT ENSURED MY MEDAL WENT TO A GREATER CAUSE

ALAN STUBBS has spoken of how a visit to a terminally ill Hibernian fan helped form his decision to give up his Scottish Cup winner’s medal.

After visiting Shaun McKinley during his team’s historic cup run last year, the former Easter Road boss resolved to donate his memento to the club in exchange for a five-figure charity donation.

Shaun lost his fight against cancer on Hogmanay and his passing was marked by a minute’s applause during Hibs’ 3-0 victory over Dundee United on Friday night.

Stubbs — himself a former cancer patient — admits the supporter’s plight made him question his faith in God. He said: ‘I went to see Shaun early last year. I just went along by myself one night, turned up without him knowing.

‘It’s not easy, speaking to someone who is terminally ill. This was a young, 30-something man. We didn’t know how long he had left and he had a young family.

‘He was completely overjoyed to see me and surprised that I was sitting there. We chatted about his experiences, the treatment he was going through. Sometimes it makes you think stupid things. Sometimes you wonder if there is a God.

‘But on the flip side of that, maybe He made him witness the Cup Final as one of his last memories.’

Stubbs’ meeting with Shaun was not the only factor in his decision to give up his valuable souvenir.

He explained: ‘I saw Shaun and then I got a letter from an anonymous women who was trying to raise money for machines to keep children alive as she’d suffered and her child had passed away.

‘I was reading the story and I just thought “wow”. It was so powerful.

‘I wanted my medal to mean something and I’m glad it’s gone to Hibs in the end. It will go in their museum and there will be three substantial donations going to three charities.’