Hibernian Football Club have decided to part ways with head coach David Gray as the team languishes in ninth place in the Scottish Premiership. The decision comes on the heels of a disappointing run of form that has seen the Edinburgh side suffer their fourth league defeat in just six matches this season, most recently falling to bottom‑table Kilmarnock on Tuesday. While the club managed to reach the semi‑final stage of the Scottish League Cup, their European ambitions were extinguished after a Conference League play‑off loss to Belgian side Gent.
The defeat in Europe, combined with a domestic slump, has added to growing concerns among the board and supporters. Historically, the recent run of poor results is stark.
Since the start of last season, Hibs have now endured six straight league defeats on home soil, a sequence that matches a club record that dates back to 1920. Such a prolonged period without a win at Easter Road is a rarity for the side and has amplified the pressure on the coaching staff. David Gray’s tenure at the club began in a permanent capacity in June 2024, when he signed a three‑year contract after serving four separate spells as interim manager.
The 38‑year‑old former player, who hung up his boots five years ago to focus on a coaching career, is remembered fondly by the Hibs faithful for his dramatic winner against Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final – a goal that ended a 114‑year wait for the club to lift the trophy. Gray’s early days in charge were promising.
In his first full season he guided Hibernian to a third‑place finish in the 2024/25 campaign, an improvement on the fifth‑place finish the club recorded the previous year. However, the recent dip in form, which now sees the team only two points above the relegation zone, has prompted the board to act.
The club’s hierarchy has now endured a rapid turnover of managers, with Gray becoming the sixth permanent head coach appointed in less than five years. Previous departures include Jack Ross in December 2021, Shaun Maloney five months later, Lee Johnson the following year, and Nick Montgomery in the summer of May 2024. This pattern of instability has been a point of concern for supporters who crave continuity.
In the short term, assistant coach John Potter will assume interim responsibility for the upcoming match against Aberdeen on Saturday. Hibernian have issued a statement indicating that a new permanent manager will be appointed "in due course," signalling that the search for a long‑term solution is already underway. 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, however, remained defiant after the Kilmarnock loss.
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 dismissal of Gray underscores the precarious position Hibernian find themselves in, balancing the need for immediate results with the longer‑term goal of rebuilding a stable, competitive squad. The club now faces the dual challenge of finding a manager who can halt the slide and restore confidence among a fan base that has endured a series of setbacks. The upcoming fixture against Aberdeen will be the first test for interim boss John Potter, while the board works behind the scenes to identify a candidate capable of delivering the consistency and ambition that Easter Road supporters expect. As the season progresses, the focus will shift to how Hibernian manage to navigate the remainder of the campaign, whether they can secure enough points to avoid a relegation battle, and how the new permanent manager will shape the team's identity moving forward.
The club’s recent history of managerial turnover highlights the importance of stability; finding the right leader could be the catalyst needed to revive Hibs' fortunes and bring back the proud tradition associated with the Hibernian name.