David Gray says he has no problem with the increased scrutiny coming his way after Hibernian suffered three consecutive defeats, insisting the attention comes with the territory of managing a club the size of Hibs.
The 38-year-old, who took on the manager role at Easter Road, has faced growing criticism from supporters and pundits alike following the recent dip in form. But Gray is refusing to hide from it.
“I understand it completely,” Gray said. “This is Hibernian Football Club. When results are not going well, people are going to ask questions and they should. That is the nature of football at this level.”
Three straight losses have piled the pressure on the former Hibs captain, who built enormous goodwill among the fanbase during his playing days at the club. That goodwill, however, only stretches so far in the unforgiving world of Scottish football management.
Gray has been in the dugout long enough to know that momentum in the Scottish Premiership can shift fast. One bad run can quickly spiral if confidence drops and results do not turn around quickly enough. He knows the clock is ticking.
What will concern supporters most is not just the defeats themselves but the manner in which they have come. Hibs have looked short of ideas at times going forward and have been too easy to break down at the back, a combination that makes for uncomfortable viewing for a support that expects the club to be competing near the top end of the table.
Gray, though, is not the type to point fingers or make excuses. He has spoken openly about what needs to improve and has made clear that the responsibility sits with him and his players to put things right on the pitch.
The scrutiny on his position will only grow if results do not improve in the coming weeks. Scottish football has seen plenty of managers lose their jobs after short runs of poor form, and Hibs have not been shy about making changes in the dugout in recent years when things have not gone to plan.
For now, the club appear to be standing behind their manager. But football is a results business, and Gray will know better than most that patience from boardrooms tends to run thin when defeats keep coming.
His playing career at Hibs earned him legendary status, captaining the side to Scottish Cup glory in 2016, ending a 114-year wait for the trophy. That kind of history buys some goodwill, but Gray himself seems keen to make clear he is not relying on past glories to keep him in a job.
The message from the manager is simple. He welcomes the pressure, accepts the criticism and is focused entirely on getting Hibernian back to winning ways as quickly as possible.