Sports16 September, 20262 min read
Hibernian Sacks Head Coach David Gray After 1-0 Loss To Kilmarnock
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Hibernian sacked head coach David Gray after six league games. 1-0 defeat by Kilmarnock left Hibs ninth with six points.
9 outlets told this the same way.
Gray sacked after Kilmarnock
Hibernian sacked head coach David Gray after a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock that left the Easter Road club ninth in the Scottish Premiership. The loss came with Hibs having suffered a sixth successive home league defeat, stretching back to last season, and it followed a fourth league defeat in six games this season.
“Hibernian have sacked head coach David Gray with the club ninth in the Scottish Premiership.”
Sky Sports said the run at Easter Road included losing six consecutive league games at home for the first time since 1920, and it noted Gray had been appointed on a permanent basis in June 2024 after his fourth interim stint. BBC said the Tuesday defeat by bottom-of-the-table Kilmarnock left Hibs ninth in the table on six points, with assistants Liam Craig and Craig Samson also leaving and John Potter placed in charge for Saturday’s home game with Aberdeen.
Ian Gordon’s message
In a statement, Hibernian executive chairman Ian Gordon said the decision was “not taken lightly” and framed it as one the board “had to make due to the recent downturn of results and performances.” Gordon added: “Dave has been an inspirational figure at the club during his time here,” and said he would like to personally thank Gray “for everything he has done for us since we joined the club.”
BBC reported that Gray’s 12-year stay at Easter Road ended six games into the Scottish Premiership season, with Potter taking charge for the Aberdeen match and the club searching for a permanent replacement. Sky Sports also reported that Gray remained defiant after the Kilmarnock defeat, telling Sky Sports: “In terms of asking for patience, the fans are frustrated because we're not achieving what we need to be at this stage and winning enough games consistently, especially at home.”
What happens next
With Hibs now searching for a sixth permanent boss in less than five years, the club said Potter would take interim charge for Saturday’s match against Aberdeen and that it would “announce a new permanent head coach in due course.” BBC said Gray departs with a League Cup semi-final against derby rivals Hearts to come on 1 November, while Sky Sports said Hibs had progressed to the League Cup semi-finals before being knocked out of Europe after a Conference League play-off defeat to Gent.
“Coach John Potter will take interim charge for Saturday's match against Aberdeen, with Hibs adding in a statement they ‘will announce a new permanent head coach in due course’.”
The BBC account also tied Gray’s overall record at Hibernian to 107 games, with 43 wins, 35 losses and 29 draws, and it noted he took over in May 2024 after replacing Nick Montgomery. In the immediate aftermath, the club’s next match at Easter Road is set against Aberdeen, and the interim period begins with Potter in charge as Hibs sit ninth after six games.