Hibernian have developed a bad habit of changing managers with ridiculous regularity.
With the Edinburgh club propping up the Scottish Premiership table after just one win in 12 outings, is David Gray going to be the next victim?
The former captain is the eighth man to take the job on a permanent basis since he signed as a player in 2014 and has been in official charge since the summer.
The atmosphere at Easter Road was poisonous following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by St Mirren and, while the fans’ ire appears to be largely aimed at those above Gray, he could be the one to pay the most immediate price.
Has Gray been set up to fail?
Gray cannot be exempt from criticism.
Hibs’ tactics are one-dimensional – get the ball wide and cross. With little support for the forward line, all too often those deliveries are repelled with ease.
Play is ponderous, bordering on the pedestrian, with Martin Boyle a shadow of his former self and Junior Hoilett not blessed with pace, even if the 34-year-old has been the pick of an underperforming bunch.
The midfield lacks dynamism, while a fragile defence has given up too many late goals, Hibs throwing away an incredible 11 points from winning positions.
Gray has also stuck with Josef Bursik, despite a catalogue of howlers from the goalkeeper, while bad luck struck when marquee signing Kieron Bowie picked up an injury on Scotland Under-21 duty.
But has a rookie manager been set up to fail?
Recruitment has been a problem area for some time now, with too many loan deals and too many average players on long contracts.
When former head coach Nick Montgomery was shown the door in May, Malky Mackay was introduced as sporting director.
Fans were told the former Watford, Cardiff City, Wigan Athletic manager would be in charge of the “entire football operation, encompassing all departments from recruitment through to the academy.”
He was also tasked with finding the next head coach and many scoffed at the “robust recruitment process” that led to interim boss Gray being promoted six days into Mackay’s tenure.
Was pairing Gray with the even less experienced assistant Liam Craig a good idea or did Mackay envisage himself in a guiding role?
While there have been a few hard luck stories this season, the meek and error-strewn showing against St Mirren did not suggest the squad are battling to ease the pressure on Gray.
“There was a lack of belief, a lack of ownership, a willingness to take responsibility,” said former Scotland winger Neil McCann on Sportscene.
“There are guys kidding on they are showing. They don’t want the ball.”
While upset by the “lack of fight” on Saturday, Gray has been measured in his public assessment of what is going wrong. After all, there is no opportunity for an overhaul until January.
“I will continue to work as hard as I possibly can because no one’s more frustrated than me,” he said. “I also know what’s in the group and what we can be.”
‘They need proper people in charge’
If it sounds like a plot line from Succession, that’s because it pretty much is…
Whereas the fictional Roman Roy ended up buying Hearts for his dad by mistake, Ian Gordon is the son of a US media mogul thrust into the deep end of running a Scottish football club.
The harsh truth is that Hibs were waning on the watch of his father Ron before his death in February last year.
Manager Jack Ross was jettisoned in favour of the untested Shaun Maloney, then came Lee Johnson and Montgomery.
Investment has increased but Hibs have finished eighth in two of the past three seasons and now find themselves rock bottom.
Along with personnel, different trading models and a B team experiment have been cast aside almost as quickly as implemented.
“Since Ron Gordon took over, all the good people at the club have either been moved on or left,” former Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart told BBC Sportsound.
“It’s the same on the park, lesser players have been brought in for more money.
“They need proper people in charge, making good decisions. There’s no point changing the manager unless things higher up change as well.”
To keep the warring businessmen theme of Succession going, we have wealthy American Bill Foley in the mix.
What does the Bournemouth owner make of goings on at Easter Road after he stumped up £6m for a 25% stake?
He has made it known his Black Knights group did not approve of the appointments of Mackay or Gray. He also had some withering words about those in charge “not listening”.
Gordon, Mackay and chief executive Ben Kensell could not fail to hear the anger from the stands on Saturday.
Dreadful results and the club’s track record suggests yet another change in the dugout, but they must also know how badly such a move would reflect on them.
What are the fans saying?
Jim: “Relegation levels of performance. Gray and Malky need to go. Probably, even that won’t save us. Hibs need new ownership and reconstruction top to bottom.”
Paul: “It looks like that Gray and his coaching staff have lost the dressing room, players seem devoid of any tactical know-how, same mistakes every week, nothing learned at training. Relegation a real possibility.”
Alan: “There are so many problems with Hibs just now but mostly with the ownership. We were promised Hibs would be at at another level and that’s certainly the case now. Ben Kensell’s comments about Black Knights being a game changer have certainly proven to be correct. Why do Hibs end up with these players?”
Anon: “For me, time’s up for Gray now. We’ll be relegated without change. How bad do things need to get before we take action? David you are, and always will be, a club legend but not ready to manage, I’m afraid. We should target Mark Robins (just unfairly sacked from Coventry).”
Greg: “Gray’s extended time due to being a legend is now up. There’s been no evidence at all to suggest he can get us performing as a top five side. Shocking summer signings. Time to employ someone who’s actually in a job and doing well here instead of getting someone that’s never managed, been sacked recently or won a lower standard of league elsewhere.”
Anon: “Mistake after mistake by the hierarchy at ER. Unfortunately, Gray was given a job he should never have got and a nightmare season is unfolding. Every game is worse than the one before with the team lacking in confidence and leadership on and off the park. We need a total restart from top to bottom.”
Mark: “What a mess. I feel sorry for Gray, but he should never have been given the job without proving himself at another club first. As for those in charge – bad appointment after bad appointment, an awful signing policy, mass overspending, the list goes on. The next manager has to be a proven type or we are going down.”
Scott: “I fear legend Gray will pay for the garbage recruitment by Mackay and the board. I hope he walks before sacked. He will always be welcomed at Hibernian.”
Anon: “Bargain basement guys let us down yet again. Boyle just going through the motions, no surprise he yet again hit a naive penalty. Season can be saved if we act quick and appoint a no nonsense manager.”
