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 fourth league defeat in just six matches this season, the most recent loss being a 2-0 setback to bottom‑placed Kilmarnock on Tuesday. While the club did manage to reach the semi‑final stage of the domestic League Cup, their European ambitions were halted earlier in the campaign when they were eliminated from the UEFA Conference League after a play‑off defeat to Belgian side Gent.
This combination of domestic disappointment and continental failure has intensified the pressure on the coaching staff. The recent run of poor form has historical resonance for the Easter Road side.
Since the start of last season, Hibs have suffered six straight league defeats at home, a streak that matches a club record set back in 1920. The inability to secure points on their own turf has become a major talking point among supporters and pundits alike.
Gray’s tenure with Hibernian began in earnest in June 2024, when he was offered a permanent three‑year contract after serving as interim manager on three separate occasions. The 38‑year‑old former player had hung up his boots five years earlier to focus on a coaching career, and he quickly cemented his status as a club legend by scoring the decisive goal against Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final – a moment that ended a 114‑year wait for the trophy.
His initial period in charge was encouraging. In the 2024/25 season, Hibs finished third, an improvement on the fifth‑place finish recorded the previous year. However, the recent slump has seen the team slip to within two points of the bottom of the table, prompting the board to conclude that a change in leadership is necessary. The sacking marks the sixth permanent managerial change at Easter Road in less than five years.
The club has previously seen Jack Ross depart in December 2021, followed by Shaun Maloney five months later, Lee Johnson the following year, and Nick Montgomery in the summer of May 2024. The turnover has contributed to a sense of instability that the board hopes to rectify. In the immediate aftermath, assistant coach John Potter has been named interim manager for the upcoming Saturday fixture against Aberdeen. The club 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 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 Kilmarnock loss.
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 broader challenges facing Hibernian. The club must now rebuild confidence among its fan base, restore home form, and re‑establish a clear tactical identity.
The upcoming match against Aberdeen will be a litmus test for the interim coaching team, while the board works behind the scenes to identify a candidate capable of delivering sustained success and ending the cycle of frequent managerial changes.