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, the most recent loss coming at the hands of bottom‑placed Kilmarnock on Tuesday. While the club did manage to reach the semi‑final stage of the Scottish League Cup, their European ambitions were extinguished earlier in the campaign when they were eliminated in the UEFA Conference League play‑off round by Belgian side Gent. The defeat added to a growing sense of unease among supporters and the board alike.
Historically, the Easter Road side have now endured six consecutive home league defeats – a streak that mirrors a club record set back in 1920. This run of poor results has intensified pressure on the coaching staff and prompted the board to take decisive action. Gray’s tenure at Hibs began in earnest in June 2024 when he was handed a three‑year contract, cementing his position after several interim spells.
The 38‑year‑old former player, who hung up his boots five years ago to concentrate on coaching, 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. 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 club recorded the previous campaign.
However, the recent slide down the table, leaving the team just two points above the relegation zone, forced the club hierarchy to conclude that a change was necessary. The decision marks the sixth permanent managerial appointment in less than five years for Hibs. The club has seen a rapid turnover of head coaches: Jack Ross departed in December 2021, Shaun Maloney followed five months later, Lee Johnson left a year after that, Nick Montgomery was dismissed in the summer of May 2024, and now David Gray has been shown the door. In the short term, assistant coach John Potter will step into the role on an interim basis for the upcoming Saturday fixture against Aberdeen.
The club issued a statement confirming that a new permanent manager will be announced in due course. Executive Chairman Ian Gordon released 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.
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 volatility that can accompany football management, especially at clubs with high expectations but limited resources. Hibernian now faces the dual challenge of stabilising their league position while searching for a long‑term solution that can restore confidence among supporters and bring a more consistent level of performance on the pitch.
The upcoming match against Aberdeen will be a crucial test for interim boss John Potter, and the board will be watching closely as they begin the hunt for a new permanent manager who can steer the club away from the relegation battle and back toward the upper echelons of Scottish football.