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 dismal run of form that has seen the Edinburgh side suffer four league defeats in just six matches this season, the most recent loss coming at the hands of 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 defeat to Belgian side Gent, ending any hope of a longer continental campaign. The recent slump has highlighted a worrying trend that stretches back to the previous campaign: Hibs have now endured six consecutive league defeats on home soil, a run that matches a club record set almost a century ago in 1920. Gray’s tenure at Easter Road began in earnest in June 2024, when he was offered 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 supporters 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.
His early days in charge looked promising. In his first full season, Hibernian finished third in the 2024/25 league, an improvement on the fifth‑place finish the previous year. However, the recent downturn has seen the team slip to just two points above the bottom of the table, prompting the club’s hierarchy to conclude that a change in leadership is necessary.
The sacking marks the sixth permanent managerial appointment in less than five years for Hibs. The club has previously seen Jack Ross depart in December 2021, Shaun Maloney five months later, Lee Johnson the following year, and Nick Montgomery in the summer of May 2024 before Gray’s exit. In the short term, assistant coach John Potter will step in as caretaker for the upcoming match against Aberdeen on Saturday. The club issued a statement confirming that a new permanent head coach will be announced "in due course".
Executive chairman Ian Gordon issued 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 defeat to Kilmarnock. In an 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 volatility that has characterized Hibernian's managerial landscape in recent years. Frequent changes at the helm have made it difficult to establish a long‑term playing philosophy, and supporters have grown increasingly restless as the team struggles to translate potential into points. The club now faces the challenge of finding a manager who can rebuild confidence, stabilize performances at Easter Road, and restore the competitive edge that once saw Hibs regularly challenge for top‑four positions.
As the search for a new permanent boss intensifies, the focus will likely shift to candidates with a proven track record of turning around struggling sides, fostering youth development, and delivering consistent results both domestically and in European competition. The upcoming fixture against Aberdeen will serve as a litmus test for the interim set‑up, offering a glimpse of whether the squad can rally under temporary leadership while the board works behind the scenes to secure a long‑term solution.