Hibs Faces Increasingly Challenging Period

With twelve games completed and only one victory, placing them at the bottom of the Premiership table, supporters at Easter Road are understandably questioning the team’s current situation. Just a few months prior, significant hope and anticipation surrounded David Gray’s permanent appointment as manager. He was a young manager who had performed well during his various interim stints and a club legend, celebrated as the goalscoring captain who ended over a century of failures by returning the Scottish Cup to Easter Road. The club also welcomed Malky Mackay, an experienced sporting director with extensive knowledge of the Scottish game, alongside new shareholders, the Black Knight group, known for their worldwide expertise in football recruitment. Despite these developments, the team’s performance has declined significantly. Gray, despite his efforts, has been unable to achieve positive results from the current squad. The players themselves have accepted responsibility for the situation. Captain Joe Newell, speaking to the media prior to the recent defeat by St Mirren, stated that Gray “deserves so much more than they have been giving him.” The match on Saturday mirrored the season’s ongoing pattern. Hibs maintained 70% possession, yet St Mirren recorded 15 attempts on goal, which was three more than Hibs managed in front of their home supporters. Gray has since been given a vote of confidence by the board, though they simultaneously emphasized the necessity for rapid improvements. A significant overhaul of the club’s squad is anticipated next summer, as numerous high-earning players will be out of contract. Decisions regarding player retention will need to be made shortly. Given the team’s current performance, it is unlikely that many players would be greatly missed by fans if they were to depart. The upcoming Christmas period marks the busiest segment of the football calendar. With away matches against Dundee, Celtic, Motherwell, Aberdeen, and Tynecastle scheduled before the close of 2024, Hibs face an increasingly challenging path forward.