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'Living legend' Gray a 'massive success' at Hibs, says Newell

Hibernian captain Joe Newell has praised dismissed manager David Gray, stating that the former coach should take immense pride in his track record following the conclusion of his 12-year association with Easter Road on Wednesday. The departure occurred with the Edinburgh outfit sitting ninth in the Scottish Premiership after six matches, amidst a streak of three consecutive league losses.

Newell, a 33-year-old midfielder who initially teamed with Gray upon arriving in 2019 and was later appointed skipper by him, acknowledged that the squad shares accountability for the recent downturn while commending Gray for consistently shielding his players.

Gray previously secured an iconic status with the club by skippering them to the 2016 Scottish Cup title, netting the decisive goal in added time against Rangers at Hampden. Transitioning into coaching, he guided Hibs to third-place and fifth-place league finishes during his tenure as a novice manager.

While reflecting on those milestones and cherished memories, Newell emphasized that his former boss will endure as a historical club icon and maintained that the incoming manager still has ample opportunity to turn the current campaign into a triumph.