David Gray's time in charge of Hibernian came to an end on Wednesday, closing a chapter for a man who had spent a dozen years at Easter Road as player, coach, interim boss and, eventually, permanent manager for just over two seasons.
The farewell carried little of the anger that often accompanies a managerial sacking. Instead, there was a sense of collective relief mixed with gratitude, a reflection of Gray's standing at the club after his part in Hibs' famous 2016 Scottish Cup triumph. Few supporters wanted to see him jeered out of the door, yet few could argue the decision was unjustified given the club's recent form.
Gray's departure follows a damaging run that saw Hibs lose six consecutive home league matches, matching a grim record last set in 1920. The Easter Road side have taken just six points from their opening six games this season and sit ninth in the table. A heavy defeat to Kilmarnock on Tuesday proved the final straw, even though Hibs had reached the League Cup semi-final, where they are due to face rivals Hearts.
Despite the bleak ending, Gray's tenure included notable achievements. He guided Hibernian to consecutive European qualifications, a feat not managed by any Hibs boss since Eddie Turnbull in the early 1970s. He also became the only Hibs manager to win at Ibrox in three straight seasons and secured a victory at Celtic Park last season. In his first campaign, after sitting bottom of the table in November, he rallied the team to finish third. A fifth-place finish followed last season, though that was overshadowed by Hearts' resurgent title challenge under Wouter Vrancken.
However, the flip side of Gray's reign was a persistent inability to see out matches, with Hibs repeatedly conceding costly late goals. In the 2024-25 season alone, they dropped points to Kilmarnock, Ross County, Hearts, Dundee (twice) and Dundee United, all in the final minutes of matches. The pattern continued into the following campaign, with late concessions against Midtjylland, Legia Warsaw, Livingston, Dunfermline, Dundee and Hearts, plus this season's defeat to Motherwell in the 85th minute and a Conference League exit against Gent after conceding in the 84th and 90th minutes.
Beyond the results, there were growing concerns about the team's style of play, which had become increasingly stale and lacking in energy. While Hibs occasionally showed flashes of quality, such moments were too infrequent to sustain momentum or excite supporters, many of whom felt the squad was capable of far more than it was delivering.
Gray, known for his honesty and passion, had often spoken candidly about the club's struggles in recent weeks. His commitment to the role was never in question, and there is a belief that he, like most managers dismissed mid-project, felt he could have turned things around given more time — much as he did during his rocky start in the job.
Attention now turns to sporting director Malky Mackay, chairman Ian Gordon and chief executive Dan Barnett, who face the task of identifying a successor capable of reinvigorating a squad many feel is underperforming relative to its talent. With Hearts continuing to impress under Vrancken, the pressure on the next Hibs manager to deliver both results and entertaining football will be significant.
For now, Hibernian returns to the familiar position of searching for a new direction, while Gray, still just 38, will look to rebuild his managerial career elsewhere, carrying with him both the highs of his playing days and the harsh lessons of life in the dugout.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.