Hibs Chairman Defends Dismissal of Club Legend David Gray Amidst Poor Performance
Ian Gordon cites a string of defeats as the catalyst for parting ways with Gray, who is praised for his contributions as player and coach.
Hibs chairman Ian Gordon stated that the club felt compelled to dismiss David Gray, a club legend, due to a severe downturn in form that has resulted in four losses in the team's initial six Premiership fixtures.
Gray, 38, was fired on Wednesday following a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock, marking the first time the club has lost six consecutive home league games since 1920. The club's chairman expressed that Gray, along with assistant Liam Craig and goalkeeping coach Craig Samson, would be missed after concluding a 12-year tenure with the Easter Road outfit.
Gordon acknowledged Gray's contributions, which included securing a top-three finish in his debut season as manager and achieving back-to-back European qualifications with a fifth-place finish in the subsequent season. However, the team was unable to advance to the Conference League main phase in either campaign, having been defeated in the play-offs by Legia Warsaw and Gent.
The club is now reportedly compiling a list of potential candidates. Names that have been mentioned as admired within the boardroom include former Celtic coach John Kennedy, currently serving as assistant to Brendan Rodgers at Saudi club Al-Qadsiah, and Jon Dahl Tomasson, former manager of Malmo and the Swedish national team.
Other individuals considered ambitious options or with potential ties to the club include former Hibs midfielder Marvin Bartley, who is managing Stenhousemuir in the Championship, ex-player and Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, Manchester United Under-18 coach Darren Fletcher, Brentford assistant Damien Duff, and former Scotland manager Steve Clarke. Neil Lennon, who previously managed Dunfermline, also had a stint at Hibs between 2016 and 2019, and former midfielder Scott Brown is currently seeking new employment after departing Ayr United.
Gordon conveyed his gratitude to Gray for his service. "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," Gordon stated on the Hibs website. "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 further described Gray as a consistent standard-setter in terms of attitude, professionalism, and work ethic, noting that he "will be sorely missed around the building by all the players and staff." Gordon also highlighted Gray's role in delivering "incredible moments" for the fans and bringing "a level of stability and consistency that we haven’t reached in recent years."
Despite these accolades, Gordon concluded, "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 chairman extended well wishes to Gray, Craig, and Samson for their future endeavors, emphasizing that they "will always be welcome back to Easter Road."