David Gray, the head coach of Hibernian, is convinced that embracing the twin forces of expectation and demand will be the catalyst for a strong campaign at Easter Road. As the new Scottish Premiership season kicks off with a clash against Motherwell on Sunday, broadcast live on Sky Sports, Gray is urging his squad to rise to the level of anticipation that supporters naturally hold. Last season, Hibs secured a fifth‑place finish, which earned them back‑to‑back qualifications for European competition. The former captain of the club is now determined to replicate, if not improve upon, that achievement.
"Ideally you want to start the season on the front foot and get off to a very good start," he told Sky Sports News. "The pressure as a manager at any club never goes away – it’s a constant presence." Reflecting on the previous campaign, Gray highlighted the importance of unity.
"The biggest thing we took from that run was sticking together," he said. He believes that camaraderie is already evident on the training ground, describing the group as a "real collective bunch that are all pulling in the same direction, which is the first thing you need." This sense of togetherness, he argues, is essential for translating ambition into results.
The manager also stressed that the expectation and demand for success are embedded in the club’s culture. New arrivals must adapt quickly to this environment. "The expectation and demand is always there and that comes with that, so new players coming in have to adjust to that very quickly," Gray explained.
He added that the standards are set not only by the club hierarchy but also by the fans and the players themselves. "We want to be successful again, like Europe, back‑to‑back.
That’s what this club needs to be and that’s what we’ll be striving to do again this season," he affirmed. Looking ahead, Gray acknowledged that the targets may be even higher this year. A fourth‑place finish or a domestic trophy would represent a step up from the previous season’s achievements. "It might be more difficult because it might require a fourth‑place finish or you need to try and win a trophy, which is something else that we always set every season as well," he said.
He also admitted that cup runs have not lived up to his expectations during his tenure, but he sees this as an opportunity for improvement. "Under my tenure here, it’s something we’ve not been as successful as I’d like to be in terms of cup runs, but again, an opportunity," he noted. Gray is confident that the squad he has at his disposal is capable of competing at the top end of the league. "The demand and the expectation and where we think we can set ourselves is when we put it all together with the squad we’ve got, we know we’re a very capable side that can put a real strong run together and compete at the top end of the league," he asserted.
In the transfer market, Gray has already secured five summer signings while retaining the core group that delivered the previous season’s success. He expressed satisfaction with the physical condition of the team and the early work done during the window. "I’m really happy with where we are from a physical point of view, from the work we’ve done early in the window," he said. The manager emphasized the need for continuous vigilance throughout the transfer period.
"When the window’s open you always have to be looking, you have to be proactive all the time," Gray remarked. He praised the club’s early support in bringing new players in, noting that early integration is ideal for any manager. "Ideally, every manager would want that.
Day one, all your players in as early as you can. Not always possible, as everybody knows, but the fact we’ve been able to do that," he added. Gray also recognized that certain areas of the squad may be slightly over‑stocked.
He expects some rotation, acknowledging that not every player will feature every minute of every game, but they should be eager to contribute. "In certain areas we are a wee bit bloated as well, so I fully expect not every player wants to play every minute of every game, but they certainly should want to. I’m expecting a bit of movement in certain areas there," he explained.
Finally, Gray reiterated his holistic approach to squad management. From the senior players down to the fringe members, he and his staff continuously evaluate the roster to identify improvements that can elevate the team’s performance and advance the club’s objectives. "We always, right from the top all the way down, look at the squad to see if something can be done that we believe makes us better and to take the club forward," he concluded.