Hibernian Sacks Head Coach David Gray Amidst Poor Start
Hibernian have sacked head coach David Gray with the club languishing ninth in the Scottish Premiership, the latest twist in a brutal start to the season at Easter Road.
The decision dropped less than 24 hours after a damaging home defeat to bottom side Kilmarnock on Tuesday – Hibs’ fourth league loss in six games of this campaign and another bleak night in Leith.
A place in the League Cup semi-finals had offered a sliver of optimism, but it wasn’t enough to mask the wider slide. Hibs had already crashed out of Europe after a Conference League play-off defeat to Gent, and the domestic form has been far more alarming.
The numbers are stark. Stretching back to last season, Hibernian have now lost six consecutive league matches at home, equalling a grim club record last set in 1920. For a club that sells itself on noise, colour and defiance at Easter Road, that statistic cut deep in the boardroom.
Gray, 38, was only appointed permanently in June 2024, rewarded with a three-year contract after four separate spells as interim boss. A modern Hibs icon, he retired from playing five years ago to move into coaching, forever immortalised by that towering header against Rangers in 2016 which ended a 114-year wait for the Scottish Cup.
His early work in the dugout backed up the romantic storyline. Hibs finished third in the 2024/25 campaign under his guidance, then fifth last season. It looked like stability at last after years of churn.
This season has shredded that illusion. Two points off the bottom and with confidence draining away, the Easter Road hierarchy decided they could not wait for another upturn. The club is now hunting for a sixth permanent manager in less than five years, following the exits of Jack Ross in December 2021, Shaun Maloney five months later, Lee Johnson the year after, Nick Montgomery in May 2024 and now Gray.
The carousel keeps spinning.
For now, coach John Potter steps in as interim boss for Saturday’s Premiership meeting with Aberdeen. Hibs confirmed in a statement they “will announce a new permanent head coach in due course”, but offered no timeline.
Board pays tribute as axe falls
Executive chairman Ian Gordon fronted the decision with a pointed mixture of praise and regret.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The words underline the contradiction at the heart of the call: admiration for the man, but no faith left in the trajectory of his team.
Gray’s defiance becomes his farewell
Ironically, Gray’s last public act as Hibs manager was to stand in front of the cameras on Tuesday night and insist he would keep fighting.
“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,” he told Sky Sports after the Kilmarnock defeat.
“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.”
“Until someone tells me otherwise” did not last long.
Now Hibs must find a manager capable not only of halting a slide and repairing a fragile home record, but of breaking a cycle of short reigns that has come to define the club.
