Hibernian Football Club have terminated the contract of head coach David Gray as the team languishes in ninth place in the Scottish Premiership. The decision comes on the back of a fourth league defeat in six matches this season, most recently a loss to bottom‑placed Kilmarnock on Tuesday. While the side managed to reach the semi‑finals of the Scottish League Cup, their European campaign was halted after a Conference League play‑off defeat to Belgian side Gent.
The Easter Road outfit have now endured six straight league defeats on home soil, a run that matches a club record set back in 1920. Gray, who was given a permanent three‑year contract in June 2024 after serving a fourth spell as interim manager, was the club’s 38‑year‑old former player who retired five years ago to pursue a coaching career. He is remembered fondly by supporters for scoring the decisive goal against Rangers in 2016, ending a 114‑year wait for the Scottish Cup.
When he first took charge, Gray oversaw a respectable third‑place finish in the 2024/25 season, an improvement on the fifth‑place finish the previous campaign. However, with Hibs now only two points above the relegation zone, the board concluded that a change was necessary. The club is now on the hunt for its sixth permanent manager in less than five years, following the exits of Jack Ross (December 2021), Shaun Maloney (five months later), Lee Johnson (the following year), Nick Montgomery (summer 2024) and now Gray.
Assistant coach John Potter will step in as caretaker for the upcoming Saturday fixture against Aberdeen, and the club has issued a statement promising that a new permanent head coach will be appointed "in due course". Executive Chairman Ian Gordon issued a heartfelt statement about Gray's departure: "Dave has been an inspirational figure at the club during his time here, and he has been a true friend and fantastic colleague to so many at the football club.
On behalf of my family, I would like to personally thank him for everything he has done for us since we joined the club. As a person, he constantly set the standard with his attitude, professionalism and general work ethic and he will be sorely missed around the building by all the players and staff. On the pitch, he has delivered some incredible moments for our fans, and brought a level of stability and consistency that we haven't reached in recent years. Ultimately, this is a decision that we have not taken lightly, but unfortunately, one as a board we had to make due to the recent downturn of results and performances." Gray himself remained defiant after the Kilmarnock defeat.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "I've been here during difficult times and I've been here during good times and you can't just say it's brilliant when things are going well and then not expect a bit of criticism when things aren't. In terms of asking for patience, the fans are frustrated because we're not achieving what we need to be at this stage and winning enough games consistently, especially at home.
And I accept that. All I can say is until someone tells me otherwise, I will be doing everything in my power, everything I possibly can as I have done at this football club to turn it around and I believe we can. It's a difficult time for everybody, the players, football club, because we've lost again off the back of a good result at the weekend and then failed to back it up again." The sacking underscores a broader pattern of instability at Hibernian, where managerial turnover has become almost annual.
Frequent changes at the helm make it challenging to build a coherent playing philosophy, develop young talent, and maintain confidence among supporters. The club's recent record—six consecutive home defeats—highlights the urgency of finding a leader who can restore belief and deliver points, particularly against lower‑ranked opposition. Looking ahead, the interim appointment of John Potter offers a short‑term solution, but the board will likely seek a manager with a proven track record in the Scottish game or someone capable of adapting modern tactics to the club's resources. Potential candidates may include seasoned Scottish Premiership figures, emerging coaches from the lower divisions, or even foreign managers looking to make a mark in Scotland.
Beyond the immediate coaching change, Hibernian must also address squad depth, defensive frailties, and goal‑scoring consistency. The loss to Kilmarnock exposed a lack of cutting edge in the final third and an inability to protect leads, issues that have plagued the side throughout the season. Strengthening the roster during the upcoming transfer window, coupled with a clear tactical vision from the next permanent manager, will be essential to halt the slide and aim for a finish clear of the relegation battle. For the fans, the season has been a rollercoaster of emotions: the joy of a League Cup semi‑final run, the disappointment of an early European exit, and the frustration of a deteriorating league form.
The club’s leadership acknowledges the supporters' patience is wearing thin and hopes the forthcoming appointment will bring renewed optimism. In summary, David Gray's dismissal marks another chapter in Hibernian's recent managerial carousel.
While his contributions—most notably the 2016 Scottish Cup heroics—will be remembered fondly, the board believes a new direction is required to arrest the current decline. The interim period under John Potter will be brief, and the search for a permanent head coach is already underway, with the aim of restoring stability, improving results, and ultimately delivering a more successful campaign for the Easter Road faithful.