Hibernian have dismissed head coach David Gray following just six league matches of the new Scottish Premiership campaign, bringing an end to his 12-year association with Easter Road.
The decision came after Tuesday's 1-0 home defeat to Kilmarnock, who sit bottom of the table. The result left Hibs in ninth place with only six points from their opening fixtures and marked the club's sixth consecutive home league defeat, a run that began last season.
Assistant coaches Liam Craig and Craig Samson have also departed the club as part of the coaching shake-up. John Potter has been placed in temporary charge of the team ahead of Saturday's home fixture against Aberdeen.
Executive chairman Ian Gordon confirmed the club's decision, acknowledging the difficulty of the choice. "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," Gordon said.
Gray's connection to Hibernian runs deep. As a player, the right-back etched his name into club folklore by scoring a stoppage-time winner against Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final, ending a 114-year wait for the club's third triumph in the competition. He had joined Hibs two years prior to that historic moment and went on to make 177 appearances before retiring in 2021 to join the coaching staff.
After serving three separate stints as interim manager, Gray was appointed head coach in May 2024, taking over from Nick Montgomery. His start in the role was troubled — he won only one of his first 15 league matches — but the team rallied dramatically to finish third that season. Hibs followed up with a fifth-place finish last term. Both campaigns secured European qualification, though each ended in heartbreaking fashion with late Conference League play-off exits.
Over his 107 games in charge, Gray recorded 43 wins, 29 draws and 35 defeats. His departure comes with a League Cup semi-final against city rivals Hearts still to be played on 1 November.
Gordon paid tribute to Gray's contribution to the club beyond results on the pitch. "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," he said. "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."
The sacking has sparked debate among supporters over where responsibility for the club's struggles truly lies. Some fans have pointed to Hibs' assembled squad, describing it as one of the most expensively built in years, while questioning whether the playing squad has performed to its potential under Gray's guidance. Others have suggested that sporting director Malky Mackay should also face scrutiny given his role alongside Gray in recent recruitment and team management decisions.
Despite the frustration over recent form, many have acknowledged Gray's legacy at the club, both as the scorer of one of its most famous goals and as a coach who twice delivered European football to Easter Road during a challenging period.
Hibernian will now turn their attention to appointing a permanent successor, with Potter overseeing first-team affairs in the interim as the club looks to arrest its concerning slide down the table.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.