Buzzbomb saddened by death of ex-Hearts boss Hagart

Hagart's tenure at Tynecastle lasted from 1974 to 1977 and peaked with the 5-1 defeat of Lokomotiv Leipzig in the 1976 European Cup Winners' Cup, a game in which Busby scored. He resigned upon the club's relegation from the Premier Division but went on to assist Scotland manager Ally McLeod at the 1978 World Cup finals in Argentina.

Hagart went on to hold coaching roles at Motherwell, Falkirk and Rangers, but he is most fondly revered in Gorgie as a man of principle who indulged in regular camaraderie with his squad.

"Some of John's team-talks were legendary," said Busby. "He would use coins to lay out formations so he had pennies to represent each player. Except Rab Prentice was a ten pence piece because he was the main man for the day. Things like that were good.

"Bobby Seith was the manager when I went to Hearts and John was his assistant. Seith used to assassinate us up the Pentlands, running about for ages. When we stopped for a breather John used to tell us a joke or two to keep us going. He was a good laugh and always a cheery guy.

"I got a text yesterday morning to say John had passed away. He always had the club's interests at heart and we wanted the best for the club, that's why we worked together with him. He was just a lovely man."

Busby's enduring memory of Hagart is his masterminding of the victory over Lokomotiv. Hearts trailed the Germans 2-0 following the first leg of the first round tie but, backed by an electric 18,000 crowd at Tynecastle, overwhelmed their visitors in the return match to record a 5-3 aggregate success.

"My main memory of his time with Hearts was that Lokomotiv Leipzig game and the atmosphere afterwards," continued Busby. "John always used to come in and crack the odd joke. He would always look on the bright side and that night he was delighted like everyone at Tynecastle.

"I spoke to him a few times in recent years, although I didn't really socialise with him because I don't live in Edinburgh. He was just a good guy to play under."

Hagart left Hearts after overseeing their relegation in 1977. As a childhood supporter of the club, he felt personally responsible for the malaise although publicly there was no call for him to step down. "I don't know how he coped with it. I don't know how I coped with it. Obviously it was a real low for him," said Busby.

Upon leaving, Hagart betrayed his true emotions and depth of feeling for Hearts. He was born in Edinburgh in 1937 and enjoyed a modest playing career with Armadale Thistle, Luton Town and Berwick Rangers. He then entered management with Newtongrange Star and also joined the SFA's coaching staff, but not until Seith appointed him assistant coach at Tynecastle in 1972 did he fulfil his true ambition.

"The one thing I will always remember is my association with Hearts," he said in 1977. "I enjoyed it tremendously; it was like a dream come true.

"My only sadness is that Hearts have been relegated for the first time in their history. No-one will ever realise how much this hurts me. It was the biggest heartache of my life. Another opportunity will come in football and my only heartbreak is that it won't be with Hearts, the team I have supported all my life."

Following his international experiences with Scotland in Argentina, Hagart worked briefly with Motherwell before becoming Falkirk manager in 1979. He guided the club to promotion from the Second Division in season 1979/80 and later joined Rangers to work under Jock Wallace, where he remained until Graeme Souness arrived as manager in 1986.

Hagart's record

Days in charge: 924

Games played: 141

Games won: 51

Games drawn: 42

Games lost: 48

Goals scored: 208

Goals conceded: 207