Hibernian

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Hibernian are interested in Ipswich Town's Scotland Under-21 goalkeeper Cieran Slicker, 21, but face competition from Kilmarnock. (Sun), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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David Gray must aim for a third-place finish in his first season as Hibs head coach, says former Scotland defender Willie Miller.

The 36-year-old was given the role on a permanent basis on Wednesday and will work under sporting director Malky Mackay.

Miller believes the appointment is a risk, but says Hibs' financial standing means there must be lofty ambitions.

"I think it's a gamble because he's a rookie manager." the Sportsound pundit said.

"He knows the culture and the players, but until you're in that hot seat, there's nothing like it. Until you're the guy who has to take the bullets when things are going wrong, you don't know how you're going to react.

"All you can do it meet it with your personality. This one has to be right. He needs the support of the board and Malky Mackay.

"If he gets the support, it's down to him to get the result. Third sport has got to be the target, there's enough finance there at these clubs [Hearts and Aberdeen too].

"My only advice is don't expect anything other than a hard time if things don't go your way."

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David Gray's appointment as Hibs boss seems to have left some fans conflicted.

A club legend stepping into the role is always risky business, with the threat of a legacy tainted if things start to unravel.

On BBC Radio Scotland, Hibs fans Matty Fairnie and Colin Wilkinson of the Longbangers podcast, external were feeling positive about Gray's prospects on a permanent basis.

"It was one of those worst-kept-secret appointments," Fairnie said.

"I know some people felt we should have gone for a bit more experience, but Gray has been getting groomed for this role for four or five years.

"There's a whole structural change going on at Hibs. Malky Mackay has to make sure Gray's got all the support that he needs to succeed in the role.

"I think he's going to do a great job, I really do".

Gray took the reins at Easter Road on a caretaker basis on four occasions before finally being able to call the job his own.

Those experiences should serve the 36-year-old well after working alongside a variety of coaches, says Wilkinson.

"He will have learned a lot under the managers he's worked with at Hibs," he said. "He'll know what not to do.

"If we brought an outsider in, we'd be saying they need time to build the squad. Gray will know who needs to go and who he needs to bring in."

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Former Hibs boss Neil Lennon admits he held "brief" talks with the Easter Road club over the recently vacant managerial position.

The 52-year-old was linked with a return to Leith after Nick Montgomery was dismissed in April, though club legend David Gray has now been given the job on a permanent basis.

As Lennon heads to Romania for a new challenge with Rapid Bucharest, he says his second spell at Celtic would have made him think twice about coming back to the capital club.

"With Hibs there was a lot of speculation, which is flattering," he told BBC Radio Scotland. "Again, a brief conversation but nothing materialised.

"It's a different club from the one I worked at. Different board, different owners. The club have made their decision and you've got to respect that.

"Would I have gone back? I don't know. I loved my time there but it's never the same the second time. I learned that at Celtic.

"I've done a lot in Scottish football, this is a chance to broaden my horizons."

• Listen to the full interview with Lennon on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound on Saturday, 8 June from 14:00 BST.

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Hearts' B team boss Liam Fox has told city rivals Hibernian he does not want to join new head coach David Gray's backroom team. (Sun), external

Gray is backed to succeed by for Hibs forward Christian Doidge. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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The results are in. And they may be a surprise.

We asked you to cast your vote on whether the Scottish Premiership should keep VAR or scrap it.

More than 3,000 of you responded to the poll - and while there was a clear majority, it was no landslide.

Those in favour of ditching VAR totalled 67% of voters, while 33% were in favour of favour of keeping it.

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David Gray’s status as a Hibs legend will count for little if he fails to hit the ground running in his tenure at head coach.

That’s the verdict of former Scotland and Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, who is a Hibs fan and hopes rookie boss Gray can make the most of a “tough gig” at a club that have churned through five managers in fewer than five years.

Speaking on the BBC’s Scottish football podcast, Nevin said: "If you don't start well, the fans can turn.

“Also, the board's not for waiting a long time. It's one of those clubs that does seem to change very, very quickly.

“And it's difficult to build a team. If you're going into management, what you want more than anything else is time. You want time to get the team playing your style, but also getting your type of players in.

"And it usually takes a minimum of a year, a season, but probably more than that and just these days with most clubs you don't get that if it doesn't go well at the start.

"Maybe Hibs in particular, you get very very little time and they just seem to switch it around. I find it an odd way to do it but give him a chance, although he'll need to start off well."

Hibernian have added £1m to David Gray's playing budget after giving him the head coach job permanently and aim to appoint Heart of Midlothian B team boss Liam Fox as his assistant, are keen to make Liam Craig a first-team coach, while Aberdeen goalkeeping coach Craig Samson is also being considered. (Daily Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

The decision to appoint (Sir) David Gray as the new head coach at Hibernian has raised a few eyebrows among the support.

His lack of experience, the fact he’s just starting his UEFA pro licence, and his association with the failed management teams of recent years have all been cited as reasons why he shouldn’t get the job.

There is validity in all of those points, in fairness. However, the case for Gray stands up to scrutiny and I think he’s exactly what the team needs, despite those reservations.

Gray has been a leader at the club since arriving as Alan Stubbs’ first signing in 2014.

In 2019, nearing the end of their playing careers, both Gray and Darren McGregor were given four-year deals, with Hibs saying the long-term plan was to give them “positions within the club that make the most of their experience and leadership qualities”.

This is a move that has been five years in the making. Gray’s leadership qualities were evident as a player – he knew just the right time to smash into a tackle to lift the crowd and the team; a stern, no-nonsense character who kept a ‘lively’ side including John McGinn, Jason Cummings and Anthony Stokes on track.

We have seen in his interim spells that he can win games, bearing in mind he has invariably had to take over at times of crisis. It’s clear he understands the game in this league and how substance over style tends to get results more often than not.

While several fans have raised questions about the appointment, there are no doubts that every supporter is right behind him.

A club legend for that goal in 2016, there will not be any Hibs fan who doesn’t want Gray to be a roaring success in the hotseat. I’ve every confidence he will be.

Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers podcast, external

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

If there were any Hibernian fans calling for a hero revitalise their club, they now have the epitome of one in the managerial hotseat.

After four stints as interim boss, David Gray is getting his chance to take the reins on a permanent basis.

Desperate or a shrewd new sense of direction? Time will tell.

As a head coach his credentials are still unclear, but the former right-back achieved legendary status as a player and captain at Easter Road.

The main reason for that? Bulleting in a header to win the 2016 Scottish Cup while wearing the armband.

After a turbulent four years, during which Hibs have burned through five managers, the fans now have an iconic figure to rally round, even if his experience in the dugout is limited.

The worry for supporters in situations like these, however, is the risk of that hero's reputation becoming tarnished.

But a look across the city shows taking a gamble on a young coach, and former player, can be a success.

Across four separate spells as interim manager, Gray's record stands at five wins, three draws and two defeats from 10 league games.

There's also a narrow League Cup final defeat to Celtic back in December 2021 to add to that - a painful but valuable experience - as well as a 3-0 Europa Conference qualifying loss at Aston Villa.

Stretching that league form over a 38-game season will be the challenge for the 36-year-old, whose immediate task is to bring stability to a club in desperate need of it.

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BBC Scotland will continue to broadcast live matches and highlights from the Scottish Cup for another five years.

The new deal extends the BBC's arrangement of showing a game from each round - up to and including the final - on a free-to-air platform.

The contract also allows the broadcaster to produce "near live digital highlights".

The Scottish Youth Cup final will also be shown live for the next five years.

• Read the full story

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Ten years on from making his debut for Hibs as a player, the time has now come for Gray to take on the head coach job at Easter Road. One of the hottest seats in Scottish football.

Many will say this is a risk for the club - and they would be right. But every managerial appointment is a gamble of some sort.

However, since Jack Ross was cruelly shown the door in December 2021, just 10 days before a League Cup final, Hibs have jumped around to try to find the one person that can set alight the club's vision for success.

And, after hanging up his boots as a player three years ago, Gray has been listening, watching and hopefully learning how he can make an impact as permanent team boss if the opportunity arises. Now it has.

In making this move, the Hibs board may well have taken a look at what happened across the city with rivals Hearts when they appointed the inexperienced Steven Naismith as head coach.

Not every Hearts fan was in agreement and patience was required. But, in the end, it paid off handsomely.

The Gordon family have to be applauded for their continued investment in Hibs.

Along with the Bill Foley/Black Knights investment, Hibs are in a stable situation financially and will be hoping the appointment of Gray, given his legendary status at Easter Road, will have fans flocking to buy season tickets ahead of the new season.

The job Gray has landed is one of the big five in Scotland, but that comes with a responsibility and accountability with every new signing and every starting XI scrutinised. New managers at any club are given a very short honeymoon period by supporters.

Before their first match in the League Cup against Elgin City next month, Gray will have an eye on who he wants to keep from what was a bloated squad at the end of last season and who he wants to bring in.

That is where the new sporting director, Malky Mackay, could be invaluable given his experience and extensive contacts throughout the UK and abroad.

However, whatever happens, Gray certainly won't fail due to lack of effort or application. The same attributes he had as a player will now follow him into the managerial hotseat.

After four stints as interim boss, David Gray has been appointed Hibs head coach.

The Scottish Cup-winning captain is the club's sixth manager in just over four years.

What do you make of the appointment of the Hibs legend? A risky move or are you in favour of the board taking a different direction?

And what should his priorities be in a big summer for the club?

Have your say here., external

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David Gray is determined to deliver success for Hibs and says it is a "true honour" to be appointed head coach of "this great football club".

Gray, skipper and scorer of the winning goal in the 2016 final as Hibs ended a 114-year wait for Scottish Cup glory, replaces Nick Montgomery to become the club’s sixth manager in just four-and-a-half years.

The 36-year-old Edinburgh native is tasked with reviving the team’s fortunes after last season’s disappointing eighth-place finish.

"It is a real privilege for me to become the head coach of this great football club," said Gray.

"Everyone knows how much Hibs means to me. It is a massive club with a phenomenal fanbase that I know very well – so to be given this opportunity is a true honour.

"From being here as a player and a coach for over 10 years, I know what a successful Hibs team looks like and I am determined to succeed and take our club forward."

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Hibs conducted a “robust recruitment process” before naming David Gray as the club’s new permanent head coach, says sporting director Malky Mackay.

Easter Road legend Gray, 36, has signed a three-year contract after four spells as interim manager.

Gray has been at the club for a decade as player then coach and Mackay - who led the managerial search - says his promotion to the hotseat provides "stability".

"Following a robust recruitment process, David emerged as our preferred candidate and we are delighted to have him on board,” Mackay said.

"Having watched his progression closely over a number of years, David’s ready to step up and become Hibernian FC’s head coach.

"David understands the pressures and demands that comes with a club like Hibs, knows Scottish football inside out, is an excellent coach and a strong man-manager.

"He already has good relationships with the current playing squad and members of staff both at HTC and Easter Road, which provides an element of stability, and we know he’s the right man for the job."

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Additional investment in Hibernian has been approved, the club have confirmed.

Shareholders Leslie Robb, Hibernian Supporters Limited (HSL), and Bydand Sports LLC have all increased their respective shareholdings.

The extra investment has been approved by Bill Foley's Black Knight Football Group, who bought a 25% stake of the club for £6m earlier this year.

Hibs are poised to name caretaker boss David Gray as permanent head coach and are set for a squad overhaul this summer under the guidance of recently-appointed sporting director Malky Mackay.

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Several clubs in Scandinavia are interested in Emiliano Marcondes after the midfielder was released by Bournemouth following his loan to Hibernian and with Norwich City deciding against pursuing the Dane. (Record), external

Raith Rovers are poised to complete the signing of 34-year-old freed Hibernian centre-half Paul Hanlon. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Controversy and VAR have been intertwined ever since its implementation in the Scottish top flight in October 2022.

From handball decisions to fouls and penalties, managers and fans alike have had grievances over the technology - and the length of time taken for decisions to be made.

With the 2023-24 season complete and the new campaign a number of weeks away, would you rather see VAR scrapped from Scottish football or persevered with?

Cast your vote here.