IAN MURRAY today insisted he won't suffer one twinge of regret as he cheers his former Rangers team-mates on to what he hopes will be UEFA Cup glory against Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday night.
The 27-year-old quit Ibrox last summer after being warned he'd have limited opportunities to play by boss Walter Smith, who now stands on the verge of completing an unprecedented quadruple of trophies.
A move to English Championship outfit Norwich
City turned sour when manager Peter Grant was sacked, prompting a return to Easter Road for the Hibs-daft utility player.
However, rather than dwell on what might have been, Murray is adamant all that concerns him is helping Hibs achieve their own target for this season, namely taking third place in the SPL table and with it a place in the UEFA Cup.
While Rangers also have their sights set on wresting the SPL title from arch-rivals Celtic and taking the Scottish Cup, Murray revealed he believes his former club should be making the UEFA Cup their priority.
He said: "I hope they do it, I grew up with guys like Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker at Hibs and it would be a great achievement. If I was them, then the UEFA Cup is the one I'd be going for."
And Murray revealed he rarely gives what might have been his own place in history a second thought. He said: "I'm sure I would have played at some point during the season had I stayed at Rangers.
"Walter Smith said as much to me but not just as many times as I would have wanted, which wasn't really any good to me. I don't really think about it too much. It's a long season when you aren't playing regularly.
"And, if you are in Europe with all the travelling, staying in different hotels only to find you aren't getting stripped or are sitting on the bench and not getting the call, then it eats away at you.
"I might have stayed at Rangers, watched the team win four trophies and end up with no medals at all. I might have played ten games, not enough appearances for an SPL winner's medal and no guarantee I'd have been involved in any of the finals.
"It's great when your colleagues are winning but there's nothing worse than sitting on the side watching it all. Perhaps it sounds selfish, but you don't really feel part of it all if you are not involved.
"Ally McCoist, Kenny McDowall and even the chairman Sir David Murray phoned me to wish me all the best when I left and they called again when I came back to Hibs which was terrific of them.
"I don't really think of all the ifs and buts. It was the same at Norwich, what if Peter Grant hadn't been sacked and what if Jim Duffy had got the job? These things happen and it doesn't really bother me. I'd rather feel I have played for three great clubs."
As much as he is looking forward to the action from Manchester on Wednesday night, Murray insisted his full focus is on Hibs' crunch clash with Celtic in Glasgow tomorrow, well aware that, in holding Rangers to a draw last weekend, he and his team-mates undoubtedly delivered a further boost to Gordon Strachan's side.
And, while conceding the outcome of today's match between UEFA Cup rivals Motherwell and Aberdeen could have a bearing on the game – at least as far as Hibs are concerned – at Celtic Park less than 24 hours later, Murray insisted the pressure remains on the Hoops.
He said: "Celtic will be up for it especially as everyone thought the League had gone for them a wee while back. Certain things have happened, they've crept back into it and they'll be delighted.
"But, if they thought we'd done them a favour last week, that's nothing to do with us. All we are concerned about is ourselves and the point we took from the game against Rangers was for us and no-one else.
"Again, it's all ifs and buts, but we could have been sitting pretty right now had it not been for the points we lost in our previous two games against Dundee United and Aberdeen.
"I thought we looked fairly comfortable against Rangers, apart from the goal which was ruled offside, and the fact Andy McNeil didn't really have a lot to do was good considering the daft goals we'd given away in the other matches."
Murray admitted that, as things stand, Hibs require others to help them out if they are to overhaul Motherwell, who are currently one point ahead of both Mixu Paatelainen's side and United, although the Steelmen wind up their season at Easter Road. Pointing out that Hibs enjoy a superior goal difference, Murray said: "If Motherwell win today and we lose tomorrow then that's it as far as we are concerned.
"But even if they win and we can get at least a point then we are still very much in it."
And Murray revealed he's hoping a sequence of late-season wins at Celtic Park can continue. He said: "I played their last season when Ugo Ehiogu scored a cracking goal for Rangers to win and a few years ago I went there with Hibs and we won 3-1, a game that set us up for Europe.
"We know we have good players, we're going to be strengthened by the return of the likes of Colin Nish, Guillaume Beuzelin, Chris Hogg and Thierry Gathuessi and it could get interesting if we can hold Celtic at bay or sneak an early goal."
• HIBS fans in Northern Ireland are to say their own "farewell" to ex-player Arthur Duncan who plans to emigrate to Australia.
Duncan will be the centre of attention at a tribute night to be held in Belfast on Saturday, June 21, following successful events to honour Easter Road legends Lawrie Reilly, Pat Stanton and Eddie Turnbull.
The evenings have proved highly popular with supporters travelling from Edinburgh and elsewhere. Tickets cost £5 and further details can be obtained from hibbyni@yahoo.com
