'Living legend' Gray advanced Hibs, asserts Newell

Hibs midfielder Joe Newell is defending sacked head coach David Gray, insisting the club legend can take pride in his achievements at Easter Road. Gray's tenure at Hibs spanned 12 years, culminating in a recent sacking amidst a run of three straight Scottish Premiership losses and a ninth-place finish after just six games.

Newell, who has been a teammate of Gray since 2019 and was appointed captain under his leadership, acknowledges that "there's an element of blame for all of us." However, he emphasizes Gray's dedication and humility, stating, "He always took responsibility, always protected his players, which I thought was noble and kind of summed him up as a man."

Gray led Hibs to Scottish Cup victory in 2016, scoring a decisive stoppage-time goal against Rangers in the final at Hampden. As a first-time head coach, he guided the team to third and fifth-place finishes. Newell believes Gray's legacy will endure, saying, "He's not just a living legend. He'll go down in history."

Despite the disappointing end to Gray's tenure, Newell remains optimistic about the season ahead. He emphasizes that "painful endgame for Gray as stale Hibs slump" but remains confident that the club can turn things around quickly. Newell asserts, "All we can do as players is buy into whoever is in charge," and expresses his belief that the squad, especially in recent years, is the best he has been a part of. He adds, "I'm massively confident that we can still achieve what we've set out to achieve."