Club captain Joe Newell has defended David Gray's record at Hibernian following the manager's dismissal on Wednesday, insisting the former boss deserves recognition for his achievements despite a difficult end to his tenure.
Gray's 12-year association with Easter Road concluded after the club fell to ninth place in the Scottish Premiership with just six points from six matches. The departure came in the aftermath of a 1-0 home defeat to Kilmarnock, which extended Hibernian's run to six consecutive league defeats at home—their worst such sequence since 1920.
Newell, 33, played alongside Gray when the latter joined Hibernian in 2019 and was appointed captain when Gray took the managerial role in June 2024. The midfielder acknowledged the strain of recent weeks while emphasising the departing manager's character and contribution.
How did Gray handle the pressure?
Gray consistently accepted responsibility for results and shielded his players from external criticism, qualities Newell believes defined him as both a manager and individual.
"There's an element of blame for all of us. He always took responsibility, always protected his players, which I thought was noble and kind of summed him up as a man,"Newell said.
The midfielder stressed that while football moves quickly, the club should remember Gray's broader contribution.
"He's not just a living legend. He'll go down in history,"Newell added, reflecting on the manager's playing career and managerial achievements.
What were Gray's key accomplishments?
As a player, Gray captained Hibernian to Scottish Cup victory in 2016, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time goal against Rangers in the final at Hampden Park. In his managerial role, which began on a permanent basis in June 2024 after an interim spell, he guided the Edinburgh side to third and fifth-place finishes in the Scottish Premiership—a marked improvement from the club's previous standing.
"His time in charge of the club was a massive success. The more time goes on, the more people will appreciate that,"Newell said.
"From the place we were in to where we went under Dave is something he should be proud of."
Gray was dismissed along with assistants Liam Craig and Craig Samson. The club's board indicated that a new permanent head coach will be announced in due course, with John Potter taking interim charge for the upcoming fixture against Aberdeen on Saturday.
Can Hibernian recover this season?
Despite the turbulent circumstances, Newell expressed confidence that the campaign remains salvageable. The club faces Aberdeen on Saturday seeking to avoid what would constitute a club record of seven successive home league defeats.
"The main thing is the reaction, to try and get back on winning terms with a performance the fans can get behind,"he said.
Hibernian's next significant fixture is the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against city rivals Hearts of Midlothian on 1 November. Newell believes the squad possesses the quality to achieve its objectives despite the managerial change.
"All we can do as players is buy into whoever is in charge. There's no crisis in terms of saving the season. It's still early on. We are in a position where we can turn it round quickly,"he explained.
"I've said it a few times on record that this squad, and especially over the last 12 months, is the best squad I've been involved in, so I'm massively confident that we can still achieve what we've set out to achieve."
What lies ahead?
Hibernian's immediate focus is stabilising their league position under Potter's interim management. The Aberdeen match on Saturday represents an opportunity to halt the home losing streak and build momentum ahead of the Edinburgh derby semi-final. The winner of that cup tie will progress to the Premier Sports Cup final later in the season, offering a potential route to silverware despite the league difficulties.
The club's search for a permanent successor to Gray will proceed in parallel, with the board expected to clarify its managerial strategy in the coming weeks.
