Hibernian sack David Gray after poor start to third season
Hibernian sacked David Gray on Wednesday evening, six league games into his third season as head coach. His departure prompted a muted reaction from supporters, described in the report as more relief than recrimination.
Gray leaves a club where he spent a dozen years as a player, becoming a goalscoring and Scottish Cup-winning figure, before moving into coaching, serving as interim manager and then as first-team manager for the last two-and-a-bit seasons. The narrative of his exit noted fans were unwilling to boo a figure remembered for his late, decisive goal at Hampden in 2016. The report described the ending as painful for all involved rather than a denunciation of his long association with the club.
On the pitch, Gray registered notable achievements: he was the first Hibs manager at Easter Road to qualify for European football in consecutive seasons since Eddie Turnbull in the early 1970s, the only Hibs manager to win at Ibrox in three consecutive seasons, and he recorded a victory at Celtic Park last season. He guided Hibs to third place in the league in his first season and to fifth the following campaign, despite a tumultuous start that included one league win in his first 14 games and a spell bottom of the table in November before a run of results lifted the team.
The factors cited for his dismissal included a run of poor results this season: six points from six league games, a heavy defeat to Kilmarnock on Tuesday and a ninth-place position in the table. The team also endured six successive home league defeats, a club record stretching back to 1920, and two unsuccessful attempts at progressing through Conference League play-offs that were framed as wasted opportunities. Progress to the League Cup semi-final against Hearts did not alter the club's decision.
A persistent tendency to concede late goals was outlined in detail. In 2024-25 Hibs conceded late goals that cost them points against Kilmarnock, Ross County, Hearts, Dundee twice and Dundee United twice in minutes 88, 90, 90, 90, 86, 90, 87 and 90. Last season they conceded late goals versus Midtjylland, Legia Warsaw, Livingston, Dunfermline, Dundee and Hearts three times in minutes 119, 90, 98, 90, 90, 90, 88, 90 and 86. This term the report recorded a loss to Motherwell in the 85th minute and goals in the 84th and 90th minutes against Gent that ended their Conference League campaign.
The write-up placed responsibility beyond the manager, saying some players must shoulder a chunk of the blame while remaining largely protected, and it named sporting director Malky Mackay, chairman Ian Gordon and chief executive Dan Barnett in the club hierarchy. It stated Hibs are "back at the drawing board" and noted Gray will have regrets about missed opportunities during his tenure.
Gordon, presumably, will lead the search for another manager, leaving the club to appoint new leadership to address the issues the report identified.
