Photo via BBC Sport

Painful endgame for Gray as stale Hibs slump

David Gray has departed Hibernian on Wednesday evening, concluding a 12-year association with the club as a player, coach, interim boss, and permanent manager for just over two campaigns. A heroic figure who famously clinched the 2016 Scottish Cup at Hampden, he previously became the first manager since Eddie Turnbull in the 1970s to achieve consecutive top-five league finishes and back-to-back European qualification at Easter Road.

His tenure also featured away victories at Celtic Park as well as three straight triumphs at Ibrox.

However, a dismal domestic spell sealed his fate, punctuated by a Tuesday defeat against Kilmarnock that left Hibs ninth in the Premiership with six points from six matches. The team had matched an unwanted 1920 club mark of six consecutive home league losses and twice faltered in European Conference League play-offs.

Even securing an upcoming League Cup semi-final derby with Hearts could not rescue the former captain, as the squad suffered from lackluster performances amidst growing supporter discontent.