Hibernian are pressing ahead with their search for a new permanent manager, with the club keen to have someone in place as they prepare for a warm weather training camp in the coming weeks.
The Edinburgh club parted ways with David Gray recently, ending his stint in charge after a difficult run of results in the Scottish Premiership. Saturday’s home clash with Aberdeen was the first league outing since Gray’s departure, with the team operating under interim arrangements while the board works through its list of candidates.
The warm weather training block is being seen as a key marker in the timeline. Hibs want clarity on the managerial position before the squad heads away, as bringing a new boss in beforehand would give them a chance to work directly with the players in a focused environment away from the pressures of matchday.
It is the kind of opportunity that does not come around often mid-season. A training camp abroad strips everything back to basics and gives a manager real time on the grass with his squad, which makes it an ideal moment for a new appointment to stamp their identity on the group.
Hibs currently sit in a frustrating position in the Premiership table, and the pressure is on the board to get the right call. Gray had been a popular figure at Easter Road, having come through the club as a player and taken on the head coach role with genuine goodwill behind him. But results ultimately cost him his job, and the focus now is firmly on what comes next.
The club has not publicly confirmed any names in the frame, keeping things tight as negotiations at this level tend to demand. A number of experienced coaches have been linked in the days since Gray’s exit, though Hibs have given little away officially.
What is clear is that the board understands the importance of getting this appointment right. The next manager will need to stabilise the league position quickly while also buying into the longer-term vision at the club. Hibs have the fanbase, the stadium, and the infrastructure to be a genuine top-six force in Scottish football, but that potential has to be unlocked by the right person in the dugout.
For now, the players are getting on with things as best they can under the interim setup, and the Aberdeen fixture gave the coaching staff a chance to assess where the squad is at heading into this critical period.
All eyes will be on Easter Road over the next week or two as the managerial announcement edges closer.