Gray sacked by Hibs after six league games

ByColin Moffat

BBC Sport Scotland

Hibernian have sacked head coach David Gray six games into the Scottish Premiership season, ending the former captain's 12-year stay at Easter Road.

Tuesday's 1-0 defeat by bottom-of-the-table Kilmarnock leaves the Edinburgh club ninth in the table on six points.

It was Hibs' sixth successive home league loss, stretching back to last season.

Assistants Liam Craig and Craig Samson are also leaving, with John Potter placed in charge for Saturday's home game with Aberdeen.

"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," said executive chairman, Ian Gordon.

Gray famously led Hibs to Scottish Cup victory in 2016, heading in a stoppage-time winner against Rangers at Hampden to end a 114-year wait for a third success in the tournament.

Having signed two years previously, the right-back retired in 2021 after 177 appearances and joined the coaching staff.

After three shorts spells as interim manager, Gray took on the position of head coach in May 2024, replacing Nick Montgomery.

He won just one of his first 15 league games but the team staged a remarkable recovery to finish third, while Hibs were fifth last season.

Both campaigns yielded European qualifiers which ended in dramatic, last-gasp Conference League play-off exits.

Gray oversaw 107 games, winning 43, losing 35 and drawing 29. He departs with a League Cup semi-final against derby rivals Hearts to come on 1 November.

"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," added Gordon.

"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."

Gray is the first Hibs boss to have secured back-to-back European places in over half a century.

He is by far the best manager of the Gordon family era, following the miserable tenures of Lee Johnson, Shaun Maloney and Montgomery.

And yet the exasperated boos at Easter Road have been growing louder week after week.

Tuesday's defeat to Kilmarnock was abysmal, with experienced pros like Grant Hanley and Jason Kerr playing like nervous novices and the visitors unlucky not to celebrate their first win in EH7 for 12 years by a greater margin.

Since matching a club record run of 17 games unbeaten to turn around his debut campaign there has been little sign of progress, with careless points regularly tossed away - a bad habit that the club has been synonymous with for decades.

There was a Scottish Cup defeat away to Dunfermline last term and an opportunity to leapfrog Motherwell into fourth place on the final day was meekly surrendered.

Style of play has been a problem, no doubt amplified by recent success at Hearts, while league rivals on much lower budgets adopt more expansive tactics.

At Hibs we often see centre-halves taking too many touches before launching the ball into channels. Too many hopeful crosses. Too many bad goals conceded at bad times.

Gray will always be a legend at Hibs for his cup final exploits. As a rookie manager his record was admirable but flatlining.

Now the spotlight of scrutiny falls on the leadership of sporting director Malky Mackay and owner Gordon.

Darren: Sad to see Davey Gray go but correct decision. The writing has been on the wall for a long time. We need to be like Motherwell and Hearts and look outside of Scotland and find a manger with an exciting style of play and fresh ideas. No "old school" Scottish manager!

Robbie: It was a great run for David. But I think his time was up after the final whistle went last night. Not a great home run.

John: I would like to thank David for what he achieved for the club as a player and then coach with two decent seasons culminating in European football. The lack of drive, effort and leadership from the players this season has got him the sack. Good luck and thanks for May 2016.

Colin: It's a sad day. It felt inevitable after last night though. I wish David Gray all the best. I hope we take a modern approach to finding a new coach and don't go down the route of Malky's contact book

Callum: Unfortunately its all about results and we haven't achieved them with ultimately the highest paid squad in years i think the board need a trusted and experienced manager now.

Richard: David Gray is unfortunate - as he is only part of the issue. Malky Mackay [sporting director] should be sacked too - they are members of the same management team and bear equal responsibility.

Ben: We got lucky in the end with Gray. After a horrendous start he pulled it back and gave us a third place finish with back to back European qualification. The football and system played however has not been good enough. There is something sad about a club legend coming to thank the fans and instead getting booed, but there was no longer any positives to take, even for the happy clappers.

Sam: As a Hearts fan, I'm genuinely sorry to see David Gray sacked. He served Hibs well. I realise that he has to take the rap for the results, but the real truth is that at the moment his players simply aren't very good. These are lean times for Hibs, but they'll come again.

Josh: If Hibs could sack Pat Stanton and Frank Sauzee they were always going to sack a Scottish Cup winning David Gray. You see some of the dross in their back line and realise he had no chance of survival. Poor guy.

Alex: Sorry it came to that for David and wish him all the best, unfortunately the manager takes the hit. But the players have let him down time after time, clearly not good enough.

Keith: Truly gutted for Gray as the players need to have a long hard look at themselves. Simo Valakari from St Johnstone is the only manager other than Neil Lennon who we should be looking at. Big Marvin Bartley is for another time. All the best Sir David and thanks for all you've done for us over the years. I'll never forget the Scottish Cup win and the celebrations afterwards as long as I live.

Scott: Long overdue. This Hibs team is going back the way. It will take a miracle to get the best out off the dross we have. Need a manager that plays exciting attacking football. Tony Mowbry was the last manager that got me off my seat. It's been a while since I've been excited to watch Hibs.

John L: Neil Lennon or could the right offer be made to Alex Neil? Steve Clarke might fancy it. Stay away from Steven Pressley as he'll not go down well. Scandinavia seems to have good young coaches so perhaps there.

Ross: Wouldn't be adverse to Kevin Thomson, good motivator. I suspect Lennon will be favourite and that would not upset me one bit.

Ali: I'd like to see someone with zero connection to the club. Something a bit different from abroad. We have failed miserably over the last 10 years bringing British failures in. Time for a change.