Next Hibernian Manager: Six Potential Candidates to Replace David Gray
Hibernian have sacked David Gray as head coach with the club ninth in the Scottish Premiership, following a fourth league defeat in six games this season after Tuesday's 1-0 home loss to bottom side Kilmarnock.
It was a sixth straight home league defeat for the Easter Road side, equalling a club record last seen in 1920.
Coach John Potter takes interim charge for Saturday's match against Aberdeen, with Hibs adding in a statement that they "will announce a new permanent head coach in due course."
Gray, who scored the injury-time winner in the 2016 Scottish Cup Final, was appointed permanently in June 2024 and led Hibs to third place last season before this term's slide.
He becomes the fifth permanent departure at Easter Road since December 2021.
As yet, UK betting sites have yet to open a formal market on Hibernian's next permanent head coach.
Next Hibernian Manager Candidates
With no market currently priced up, here at Free Bets, we've picked out six names who could be in the frame for the Easter Road job.
Jon Dahl Tomasson
Jon Dahl Tomasson is out of work after being sacked as Sweden head coach in autumn 2025 following a historically poor World Cup qualifying campaign.
He hasn't taken a new job since, though he's stayed visible as a TV pundit and has openly joked that "my phone is always on" when asked about vacancies.
The Dane's club CV includes Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, two Allsvenskan titles with Malmo FF, and spells at Roda JC and Excelsior in the Netherlands.
He's no stranger to Hibs, either - he was interviewed for the Easter Road job back in 2022 before losing out to Lee Johnson, reportedly over wage demands.
A track record of major honours abroad and known previous interest in the club make him an interesting fit, though the same salary questions that counted against him in 2022 haven't gone away.
Shaun Maloney
Shaun Maloney began his managerial career at Hibernian five years ago before moving on to Wigan Athletic.
He's currently assistant manager to Martin O'Neill at Celtic.
A return to Easter Road with a more experienced coaching CV behind him would carry an obvious romance, and he's known and respected within the building.
Celtic standing in his way, and one short first spell in club management being enough evidence for Hibs to back him again, are the key questions.
Scott Brown
Scott Brown left Ayr United by mutual consent in March 2026 after a poor run of results, ending a spell that began in January 2024 and included a third-place Championship finish.
He has been out of management since and was recently linked with the vacant Derry City job in the League of Ireland.
The former Celtic and Scotland captain remains one of the biggest names available in Scottish football, and his leadership credentials are not in question.
A board still smarting from David Gray's struggles may be wary of another rebuild project, and questions remain over what soured Brown's most recent Ayr United spell - the obvious counterpoints.
Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher would be the most ambitious of the names on this list.
The former Scotland captain is currently head coach of Manchester United's Under-18s, having had a brief spell in interim charge of the first team before Michael Carrick's appointment.
Fletcher has no permanent managerial experience anywhere, which makes Hibs a considerable gamble either way.
But his profile and coaching pedigree at United mean his name won't be dismissed lightly if he's open to the move.
Steve Evans
Steve Evans is the name most consistently linked with the vacancy, having reportedly been on Hibernian's radar since early September while Gray was still under pressure.
The 63-year-old Scot has transformed Bristol Rovers this season, guiding them to the top of League Two, and has previous Championship experience from spells at Leeds United and Rotherham United.
A return to his home country would appeal, and his experience of turning teams around quickly makes him a serious contender.
The jump from League Two and the cost of prising him away from Bristol Rovers are the obvious complications.
Steve Clarke
Steve Clarke is the most eye-catching name on this list and, unlike the earlier reports suggested, he's actually available.
He stepped down as Scotland head coach in June 2026 immediately after their group-stage exit at the World Cup, just a month after signing a new four-year deal, and has been out of work since.
Clarke ended a run of seven years in the Scotland job, taking the country to a first major tournament since 1998, and built his reputation domestically with title-challenging spells at Kilmarnock and St Mirren.
There's no reporting yet linking him to Hibs directly, but as the most decorated Scottish manager currently out of work, his name is likely to come up in any conversation about the Easter Road job.
For now, John Potter takes interim charge for Saturday's visit of Aberdeen, with Hibernian's permanent search already under way.
This page will be updated if a formal market opens or a frontrunner emerges.
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