Hibs set to appoint new permanent head coach as agreement reached with preferred candidate
Hibs are closing in on the appointment of David Gray as the club's new permanent head coach.
The 36-year-old was placed in caretaker charge for the fourth time following the sacking of Nick Montgomery in May and made no secret of his desire to land the job on a full-time basis.
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Hide AdFollowing a detailed search – led by new sporting director Malky Mackay – former captain Gray has emerged as the preferred candidate for the role. An agreement in principle has been reached with discussions ongoing over the make-up of his backroom team. An announcement will follow once the individuals are in place.


Gray oversaw a 3-0 home win over Motherwell and a 1-1 draw at Livingston as Hibs finished a disappointing campaign in eighth place in the Scottish Premiership. His overall record across 12 matches as interim manager stands at five wins, three draws and four defeats, with two of his losses coming against Celtic in the 2021 League Cup final and away to Aston Villa in last season's Europa Conference League play-off.
The former right-back has spent a decade at Easter Road and is revered by fans for his stoppage time winner against Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final that ended Hibs' 114-year wait for the trophy. He retired from playing three years ago and took up a first-team coaching position with the club.
When asked last month if he was ready to become Hibs manager in his own right, Gray said: "I'm not shying away from it. I believe I can do it. I've demonstrated I can. Ultimately it's what the club want to do moving forward. If they feel I'm ready to do it and they want me to do it that's a decision they can make."
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Hide AdGray will become the club's sixth head coach in less than five years following the dismissals of Paul Heckingbottom, Jack Ross, Shaun Maloney, Lee Johnson and Montgomery.
The latter paid the price for failing to secure a top six finish, which was branded "simply unacceptable" in a scathing statement issued by Hibs' directors promising "a full review of the club's football structure", which Bill Foley's Black Knight group are helping to oversee after the Bournemouth owner recently purchased 25 per cent of the club.
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