Hibernian

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Former Arminia Bielefeld boss Michel Kniat and Vesa Vasara, currently in charge at Finnish side Inter Turku, are understood to be among those being considered for the head coach's position at Hibernian. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

And ex-Beveren head coach Marink Reedijk is keen on the Hibs vacancy. (Record - subscription required, external)

Shamrock Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley would be available without compensation should Hibs pursue the Irishman. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Shamrock Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley is a leading candidate to take over at Hibernian following David Gray's departure. (Irish Independent - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

It was good to get Saturday's game out the way after a difficult couple of weeks at Hibs.

Easter Road was quite subdued before kick-off and I think most fans will agree the break has come at a good time for the club.

There was a notable lifting of tensions around the stadium, in stark contrast to the charged atmosphere on Tuesday where the team was chastised for any and every mistake by sections of the crowd.

It felt like full-time properly brought the curtain down on (Sir) David Gray's tenure, even if the separation had formally happened a few days earlier, and the club now have the luxury of a bit of break in which to recruit a new head coach.

The team are scheduled to head to Spain for a training break - an incoming head coach could use this as a mini-pre-season with time to convey their ideas and tactics without the pressure of managing a game-to-game schedule.

We can now look forward with some optimism and excitement. The club need to get this appointment right and there's a fine balance between reading the room in terms of gauging supporter sentiment and being brave enough to back whoever they identify as Gray's successor, even if it's not a universally popular choice.

This is where Malky Mackay and the recruitment team have to earn their corn. The assumed benefit of having a sporting director is to minimise disruption when a head coach leaves, so hopefully Gray's successor is announced sooner rather than later.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Sportscene's Steven Thompson and James McFadden discuss head coach David Gray's departure from Hibernian.

Cal Gilkison
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hibernian should follow the example of city rivals Hearts as they search for David Gray's successor as head coach, according to the club's former midfielder Scott Allan.

Gray departed the club after a 1-0 defeat against bottom of the table Kilmarnock. The club's sixth successive home league loss, a run that stretched back to last season.

Hearts appointed Belgian coach Wouter Vrancken as Derek McInnes' successor in the summer, who has instilled an attacking brand of football at Tynecastle.

When asked about who he thought could replace Gray, Allan did not name names, but thinks it should be a coach with a clear "style of play" as Hearts have done.

"There is no getting away from it, they can't get this next appointment wrong," he said. "It has to be the right one and I think the fans will demand that."

Reflecting on Gray's tenure as head coach, Allan says the club's former captain helped "stabilise the club" after three managerial appointments in the space of two years.

Allan also mentioned the "fine margins between being successful and unsuccessful," referencing that Hibs were 13 minutes away from qualifying for the Conference League and the second half of the Edinburgh derby defeat earlier this month as key moments that contributed to Gray's departure.

Hibernian interim head coach John Potter says appointing the right successor to David Gray is more important than rushing a decision as the players head for a warm weather training camp. (The Scotsman, external)

Hibs striker Owen Elding says his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad is a massive chance as the 20-year-old prepares to face Kosovo, Israel and Austria after a long wait to resolve red tape issues. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Interim Hibernian manager John Potter insists the next permanent boss is inheriting a dedicated squad who need to start overcoming the fine margins in football.

In their first game since David Gray was sacked from the dugout, the Leith side fought back to claim a point in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Aberdeen.

In earning a share of the spoils Hibs also avoided losing a seventh straight home league game for the first time in their history.

The club board will now use the international break to step up their pursuit of a new head coach but Potter insists that person will come across a group of players desperate to get the team moving in the right direction.

Potter said: "There's a good group of players that really, really work hard every day. They train well and they always give 100 per cent.

"It doesn't always go our way, and it's not in the last little while, but that's those small percentages that can go either way in a game by a missed chance or a red card or whatever that needs to be.

"Those small things maybe didn't go our way but that's not through a lack of effort and it never has been, since I've been in here at the club anyway.

"It's probably just bringing it all together for 90 minutes."

A disappointing week got even worse for Hibs when Kevin Nisbet fired Aberdeen ahead with a well-taken goal in the 17th minute.

But the hosts improved after the break and got the leveller through Martin Boyle from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute after Jack Milne dragged Jason Kerr to the ground inside the box.

Potter added: "I don't actually think the first half was that bad. I thought we got into good areas but the final bit was just missing and we're obviously disappointed with their goal.

"I thought we got into some good areas but when they play like that and they play on the front foot, we can be a good team and we can be a threat.

"There's just those small things that we need to try and do and maybe get that second goal or be a little bit better in the goal that they scored – small things at this level are a big part of the game."

Hibernian draw their first game since head coach David Gray's departure against Scottish Premiership visitors Aberdeen (UK only).

Hibs fans, we asked for your opinions on the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Easter Road. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Mark: Where to start? Too slow, nervous on the ball, a lot of players not sure what they should be doing! We need a total overhaul of players and a manager who will get rid of some of these imposters!

Jamie: We're celebrating a draw at home to a poor Aberdeen side, during which we failed to trouble their goalkeeper, apart from the penalty. We badly need a manager who can coach this bunch of players into a team.

Sandy: Maybe that second half when we upped our game is a sign at last. John Potter stuck to basically same formats as a David Gray team including his subs. Whoever comes in has a hard act to follow, Gray is a legend.

Lee: I wondered last week what if Hibs had moved Gray into a higher position and it was Malky Mackay that had been shown the door. I read Tom English comments post-Gray sacking and it made me realise how close Gray had gotten to greatness. In crisis, Hibs always focus on the dugout when maybe the problem lies elsewhere?

Tony: Poor first half and their goal was oh-so similar to previous goals conceded. Poor defending and lack of insight going forward. Second half was better but not great. The formation we are playing limits us, as do the players who can come on and it's too predictable. Full change of tactics and set-up needed to utilise the strengths in the team. They're well hidden but there are good players there.

Andrew: I'd rather play the youth team. Gray has been carrying the blame for Hibs ineptitude. We're tenth in the table, we lost to the bottom of the league and scraped a draw at home to a poor Aberdeen. Why is Malky Mackay still in post, our recruitment has been awful for years. The club is a shambles.

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Hibernian interim head coach John Potter: "The feeling at the end was we definitely deserved a point. You get greedy and think we were pushing for a second and we did get into a few good areas and had a few efforts on goal. But we know Aberdeen are always a threat going the other way.

"But at Hibs we need to win games at home, it's straightforward, but we'll take the draw but there's a bit of disappointment we couldn't get three.

"From a football point of view we need to get back winning games. From a club point of view they'll make the decision when it's ready to bring a new head coach in, or new coaching team.

"We're prepared for the La Manga [training camp] trip if that doesn't happen [soon]. The players have got a few days off, and I'm sure I'll hear from the club at the start of the week what's happening.

"There's a good group there. If we can get everyone back fit in a few weeks we'll be in a good place."

Managerless Hibernian showed some determination and fight to come back and earn a draw in the Scottish Premiership against improving Aberdeen at Easter Road.

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Former Reading midfielder Emerse Fae, the 42-year-old who led Ivory Coast to knockout stage for the first time at this summer's World Cup and has family links to Scotland, is interested in becoming Hibernian head coach. (Scottish Sun, external)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Hibs will be under the charge of interim boss John Potter following David Gray's midweek sacking.

Kanayo Megwa (thigh) joins fellow defenders Marko Ivezic (illness), Rocky Bushiri (Achilles) and Jordan Obita (calf) on the sidelines, while Jamie McGrath (calf) remains a doubt.

Aberdeen pair Stuart Armstrong and Lewis Mayo are fitness concerns, while Brad Lyons (knee), Emmanuel Gyamfi (thigh) and Kristers Tobers (knee) are still out.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Interim boss John Potter has been speaking to the media before Hibs host Aberdeen on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines:

• Potter admits the sacking of David Gray - who did a "great job" - was a "bit of a surprise" but in football "these things happen".

• He says Gray can be proud of his record as player and manager at the club.

• Potter also stressed that responsibility for Hibs' poor form should not rest solely with Gray. He says: "I think everyone's got to take responsibility for some of the results that we've had. That's players, that's staff, that's us, that's everyone and I think that's important we do that."

• Thursday was a "tough day" for everyone at the club, with Potter adding: "David, Liam (Craig) and Craig (Samson) are good guys, they're friends of mine, they're friends of a lot of the staff and the players, so it's difficult."

• But he insists the players' full focus must now be on Saturday's match, adding: "Their jobs are to try and go and win games of football."

• Potter is "open to anything" regarding his own future but says he has no idea how or when the club will be looking to make a new appointment.

• Hibs are "a brilliant club" and the expectations should be finishing near the top of the league and winning cups.

• Kanayo Megwa will be missing after picking up an injury in the defeat to Kilmarnock.

• Gareth Evans, Darren McGregor and Scott Thomson will assist Potter in the game at the weekend.

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Hibernian will have only made the right call to sack David Gray "if they get the right manager in", according to former Easter Road midfielder Scott Allan.

The former Hibs captain exited after Tuesday's home defeat by bottom-placed Kilmarnock and Allan thought "it had a sense of inevitability about it" when "fans are not happy with what they're seeing".

"It was just as poor a performance I've seen from Hibs in a long time," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "I thought they were really poor."

Allan thought Gray had been "a right good crack" at the Hibs job but that this season had shown "what separates managers being great and good is fine margins".

He pointed out Gray had been "13 minutes away from" qualifying for the Conference League and Hibs had been "good up until a player gets sent off" in their derby defeat by Hearts.

However, it "just felt to me that they were standing still a little bit and had to have invested in their squad".

"I think ultimately the fans were getting bit fed up with the sort of football they were playing," Allan said. "And Hibs have obviously felt that a change is needed."

He had "raised my eyebrows" at some of the names being linked with the job and did not think any candidates currently operating or available in Scotland were suitable.

"They need to go and pluck someone from somewhere who has a really good CV," Allan added. "here's huge pressure on getting this appointment right."

• Hibs, who sacked head coach David Gray in midweek, have lost six successive home games in the Scottish Premiership. In the 21st century, just two sides have lost seven in a row at home in Scotland's top flight: Ross County (Oct 2014 to Jan 2015) and Dundee (May to Oct 2018).

• Aberdeen scored as many goals in their 4-0 win at Motherwell last time out as they had in their previous seven league games combined. The Dons have kept two consecutive Premiership clean sheets, last keeping three in a row in May 2024 (5).

• Hibs (26y 325d) and Aberdeen (27y 325d) are the two sides with the oldest average ages of their starting XIs in the top flight this season.

• Hibs have only lost one of their past 10 home league games against Aberdeen (W7 D2), a 4-0 defeat in May 2024.

• After their 2-0 win in April, Aberdeen could win back-to-back league meetings with Hibs for the first time since November 2020 (3 in a row).

Hibernian are ready to ask permission from Bristol Rovers to speak to 63-year-old Steve Evans over the vacant manager's role at Easter Road following the departure of David Gray. (Football Insider, external)

Hibs would need to pay £250,000 in compensation if they decide to move for Steve Evans after the Scot, who has Bristol Rovers joint top of League Two, was installed as the early bookmakers' favourite for the vacancy at Easter Road. (Daily Record, external)

Hibs have not approached Bristol Rovers to discuss talks with manager Steve Evans, despite reports linking the Edinburgh club with the veteran coach, but hope to make an appointment early in the international break. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Former Feynoord striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, who most recently managed Sweden, is second favourite for the Hibs job behind Steve Evans. (Scottish Sun, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

It felt inevitable that David Gray's time was up long before the full-time whistle on Tuesday night.

The atmosphere at Easter Road was as hostile as I can remember. It was clear that, for the Hibs support, this was one poor performance too many.

Hibs will lose to teams worse than Kilmarnock, but the manner of the defeat, coming after bafflingly poor displays in Perth and the Edinburgh derby (at least for the first 45 minutes), left Gray with no way back.

I'm gutted about it. Gray will always be a club legend and as head coach he made history in several ways, some more significant than others.

He led Hibs to consecutive top-five finishes for the first time in seven years, secured back-to-back European campaigns, oversaw three straight wins at Ibrox and ended a painfully long wait for a victory at Parkhead.

Add in the Christmas derby win that derailed Hearts' title challenge last season and Gray can be proud of what he achieved at the club.

However, the focus now needs to shift beyond Gray and towards the role Malky Mackay has played in the club's current situation.

The summer recruitment looked incoherent at best, leaving the squad short on quality and lacking options to change games from the bench. Gray can justifiably feel frustrated by the players he was given to work with.

The Gordon family should also be asking serious questions about whether the club is heading in the right direction.

The next managerial appointment is hugely important, not only for the team's future but also for rebuilding supporters' confidence. Right now, it's hard to say there is widespread trust the people making that decision are the right ones.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external