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 back of a disappointing run of form, highlighted by a fourth league defeat in just six matches this season when the Easter Road side were beaten by bottom‑placed Kilmarnock on Tuesday. Although the club managed to reach the semi‑final stage of the domestic League Cup, their European ambitions were extinguished after a Conference League play‑off loss to Belgian side Gent. The defeat added to a worrying trend that stretches back to the previous campaign: Hibs have now suffered six straight home league defeats, a sequence that matches a club record set almost a century ago in 1920.
Gray’s appointment was made permanent in June 2024 when he signed a three‑year contract after serving as interim manager on four separate occasions. The 38‑year‑old former player had retired from the professional game five years earlier to focus on a coaching career, and he is remembered fondly by supporters for the dramatic winner he scored against Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final – a goal that ended a 114‑year wait for the trophy. When he first took charge, Gray oversaw a respectable third‑place finish in the 2024/25 season, improving on the fifth‑place finish the club recorded the year before. However, the recent slump has seen Hibs hovering just two points above the relegation zone, prompting the club’s hierarchy to conclude that a change at the helm is necessary.
This marks the sixth permanent managerial appointment in less than five years for Hibernian. The club has previously seen Jack Ross depart in December 2021, Shaun Maloney leave five months later, Lee Johnson exit the following year, Nick Montgomery step down in the summer of May 2024, and now David Gray. In the interim, coach John Potter will take charge for the upcoming match against Aberdeen, while the club has issued a statement indicating that a new permanent head coach will be announced "in due course". Executive chairman Ian Gordon issued a heartfelt statement about Gray’s contribution: "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 loss to Kilmarnock. In a post‑match interview with 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 underscores the volatile nature of managerial tenures in modern football, where short‑term results often outweigh longer‑term planning. Hibernian now faces the challenge of stabilising a squad that has shown flashes of quality but has struggled to translate that into consistent league points, particularly on their home ground.
The club will be looking to appoint a manager capable of restoring confidence, improving defensive solidity, and reigniting the attacking flair that once made Easter Road a feared venue. As the search for a new permanent boss begins, supporters will be hoping that the next appointment can break the home‑loss streak, lift the team out of the relegation battle, and perhaps guide Hibs back into European competition next season. The upcoming fixture against Aberdeen will serve as a short‑term test for interim coach John Potter, while the board works behind the scenes to secure a long‑term solution that aligns with the club’s ambitions and the expectations of its passionate fan base.