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 dismal run of form, highlighted by a fourth league defeat in just six matches this season when the Edinburgh side were beaten by bottom‑placed Kilmarnock on Tuesday.
While the club managed to reach the semi‑final stage of the domestic League Cup, its European ambitions were snuffed out earlier in the campaign after a disappointing loss to Belgian side Gent in the UEFA Conference League play‑off round. The defeat added to a growing sense of frustration among supporters and the board alike. The recent string of poor results is not an isolated incident.
Since last season, Hibs have endured six consecutive league defeats on their home turf at Easter Road, a run that now matches a club record that dates back to 1920. The historic slump has intensified pressure on the managerial hierarchy and prompted the board to act decisively.
David Gray, who was appointed on a permanent three‑year contract in June 2024 after serving four separate spells as interim manager, found his tenure cut short. The 38‑year‑old former player had hung up his boots five years earlier to focus on a coaching career, and he quickly became a fan favourite after scoring the decisive goal against Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final – a moment that ended a 114‑year wait for the club to lift that trophy.
Gray’s early days in charge were promising. In the 2024/25 season he guided Hibernian to a respectable third‑place finish, improving on the fifth‑place finish the side achieved the previous campaign. However, the recent downturn – with the team now only two points above the relegation zone – has convinced the club’s hierarchy that a change is necessary.
The sacking marks the sixth permanent managerial change at Easter Road in less than five years. Former bosses Jack Ross departed in December 2021, Shaun Maloney left five months later, Lee Johnson exited the following year, Nick Montgomery was dismissed in the summer of May 2024, and now David Gray has joined that list. In the short term, first‑team coach John Potter will step in as interim manager for the upcoming Saturday fixture against Aberdeen.
The club has issued a statement indicating that a new permanent head coach will be appointed "in due course," signalling that the search for a long‑term solution is already underway. Executive chairman Ian Gordon offered a heartfelt tribute to Gray, stating: "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.
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 underscores the volatile nature of football management in Scotland, where results are demanded quickly and clubs are quick to act when expectations are not met. Hibernian now faces the challenge of stabilising the squad, restoring confidence among the fan base, and finding a manager capable of reversing the current slide while rebuilding the team's identity. The upcoming match against Aberdeen will be a crucial test for interim boss John Potter, and the club’s next permanent appointment will need to address both short‑term performance issues and long‑term strategic planning to ensure Easter Road can return to competing for higher league positions and European qualification in the seasons ahead.