Scott Brown Hibs Next Manager Questions Leith News 2026

Key Points

• Former Hibernian player Scott Brown said he is “devastated” for David Gray after Hibernian FC sacked their manager.
• Brown raised three strategic questions he says the Hibernian board must answer before hiring a replacement.
• His questions focus on defining the team’s playing style, choosing between a manager or head coach model, and deciding how much control the new hire will have over football operations.
• Brown stated that he would “love” to manage Hibernian in the future, but needs more experience before taking over at Easter Road.
• Gray left the club alongside assistant Liam Craig and goalkeeping coach Craig Samson following a poor run of results, ending his 12-year stint in Leith.
• Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans and former Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Faé are among those linked to the vacant post.

Leith (Edinburgh Daily) September 21, 2026 – Former Hibernian midfielder and ex-Scotland captain Scott Brown has outlined three fundamental questions the Hibernian hierarchy must address during their search for a new manager, whilst confessing his absolute devastation over the departure of club icon David Gray.

The Leith club parted ways with Gray alongside assistant coach Liam Craig and goalkeeping coach Craig Samson following a difficult sequence of results, bringing an end to Gray’s 12-year association with the Easter Road outfit as player, coach, and manager.

As reported by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record, Scott Brown stated on BBC Sportsound that “the club means loads to me,” adding: “Look, I have a lot to thank the club for. If it wasn’t for Hibs bringing me through, the youth policy, and all the younger coaches bringing me through… I got very, very lucky that Hibs were in a lot of debt and Bobby [Williamson], he was forced to play most of it and it worked out well for myself, Kevin Thomson, Steven Whittaker and Steven Fletcher.”

Brown, who previously managed Fleetwood Town and Ayr United, insisted that the Edinburgh club must establish structural clarity before appointing Gray’s permanent successor.

What three questions must Hibernian ask in their search for a new manager?

According to Scott Brown’s statements on BBC Sportsound, as cited by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record, the former Celtic captain identified three major operational considerations for the Easter Road board:

1. What is the playing style? — Brown asked: “But what is their style? Is it 4-3-3, open football, or are we going to be defensive-minded?”
2. What is the organizational structure? — Brown questioned: “Are they bringing in a head coach? Are they bringing in manager?”
3. What is the level of authority? — Brown concluded: “…and will they let them dictate what happens?”

Brown further argued that structural alignment requires patience, pointing to examples elsewhere in Scottish football. As reported by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record, Brown remarked: “I think they have to have a positive clear out to get what they want, and they have to have a mindset of what they are going to do. Motherwell did it really well, so did St Johnstone – here is our style, this is how we are going to play. It might take six months, it might take a year but it’s not going to happen overnight to change everything at Hibs.”

Will Scott Brown take over as the next Hibernian manager?

Addressing direct speculation connecting him with the vacant post at Easter Road, Brown confirmed his affection for Hibernian but clarified his personal position regarding immediate appointment.

As reported by The Herald Scotland, Brown stated on BBC Sportsound: “I would love to be the Hibs manager, I would, but there’s a place you have to get to before you get to become the Hibs manager. I really enjoyed my experience at Fleetwood and Ayr.”

Pushed further on his management aspirations and potential return to the dugout, Brown added: “And do I want to go back in? Look there is a time and a place where I might. But I really enjoy being in here talking to you.”

Brown stepped down from his managerial position at Ayr United by mutual agreement in March 2026 following a difficult sequence of results in the Scottish Championship, ending a spell that began in January 2024.

Who are the leading candidates linked with the Easter Road post?

Following David Gray’s dismissal, several candidates have emerged across media reports and bookmakers’ markets:

• Steve Evans: As reported by the Daily Record, Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans has been noted by oddsmakers, though any potential approach would require a compensation package. As covered in the Hibs Observer, Evans stated he would never dismiss managing in Scottish football.
• Emerse Faé: As reported by the Daily Record, former Ivory Coast manager Emerse Faé—who guided his national side during the Africa Cup of Nations and the subsequent World Cup cycle—has expressed an interest in taking on a club role.
• Jon Dahl Tomasson & Shaun Maloney: As reported by Free Bets, former Sweden head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson and Wigan Athletic manager Shaun Maloney have also been cited in candidate profiles.

Interim stewardship has fallen to John Potter, who oversaw a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen at Easter Road leading into the international break.

Background of the particular development

David Gray holds a iconic place in Hibernian FC history, having scored the stoppage-time winning goal in the 2016 Scottish Cup Final to end the club’s 114-year wait for the trophy. After serving in various interim capacities, Gray was officially appointed permanent head coach in June 2024.

Despite securing a third-place finish during the 2024/25 campaign, Hibernian experienced a sharp decline in form during the 2025/26 season. A 2-1 defeat to Kilmarnock, marking a sixth consecutive loss at Easter Road, prompted the board to part company with Gray, making him the fifth permanent manager to leave the club since December 2021.

The rapid turnover of coaching staff at Easter Road has led to criticism regarding football operations, with executive director Malky Mackay and the club hierarchy facing call-outs from supporter groups over recruitment and long-term planning.

Prediction: How this development can affect Hibernian supporters and club operations

The decision to part ways with David Gray and recruit a new manager carries distinct operational and emotional consequences for Hibernian FC, its playing squad, and its fan base.

Impact on Supporters

For the Hibernian fanbase, Gray’s exit represents an emotional fracture, given his legendary status as the 2016 Scottish Cup-winning captain. However, mounting frustration over home results had created widespread discontent. If the board hires an experienced tactician who establishes a distinct playing style—as recommended by Scott Brown—fan alignment could swiftly return. Conversely, another short-lived managerial tenure risks exacerbating supporter frustration towards the board.

Impact on Squad and Football Operations

In the short term, the playing squad faces operational recalibration during the international window under interim coach John Potter. If the board follows Scott Brown’s advice to explicitly choose between a traditional manager or a head coach model working alongside Sporting Director Malky Mackay, it will dictate future transfer window strategies and squad building. A fundamental shift in tactical approach may require a squad overhaul across upcoming transfer windows to suit the replacement’s preferred system.