Why axed Hibs boss David Gray gave summer coaching recruit an honest answer to long-term job security question
Aberdeen visit Easter Road as home side chase desperately needed points
The understudy who never really wanted to be thrust centre stage, John Potter always knew that even his supporting role could be a short-term gig. And he’s not exactly privy to what the producers behind this drama have in mind for the next plot twist.
Not even sure who will be running sessions when Hibs head off on an overseas training camp in little over a week’s time, Potter will lead the team into Scottish Premiership battle against Aberdeen at Easter Road this afternoon. Beyond that, he has some ideas on what the club might need, if they’re to build on the work done by David Gray – but knows he’s unlikely to be asked for his input.
Brought back into the fold at East Mains just a few months ago, Potter – who had served as assistant to Jack Ross in a previous life at Hibs – revealed that his talks with Gray had included some blunt discussions on likely length of service. Well, in Scottish football, who is guaranteed the luxury of a third full season at the helm?
“When I spoke to Dave in the summer about coming back, we knew that he's been here a couple of years now - and the life of a manager can be difficult,” said Potter. “Bu I came back and I really enjoy it at the club. I like the people here and I enjoy it. It’s for other people to decide what my future is going forward.
“I’m pretty much going to take the game. I've made sure it's been organised yesterday and today and then we've got a couple of meetings later on this afternoon to make sure we're good to go for tomorrow. It's important that we do our job - and our job is to try and win a game of football. We'll be prepared and after that it's up to the club and the people at the club to decide.”
‘Training trip’ scheduled for international break
Revealing that players are due to have some time off after the Aberdeen game, with a three-week international break affording rest to those not called up by their countries, Potter also confirmed that Hibs have a “training trip” scheduled during the heart of the SPFL shut-down.
In an indication of just how fluid the search for a successor to Gray is, however, the veteran coach – asked who would be taking charge for that week of intensive warm-weather work – admitted: “I don't know. We've put it into place in terms of what's required, training times, we spoke to the staff about players that are going and players that are international so that's all organised.
“But in terms of what goes ahead there or who takes it, we don't know yet. We'll just need to react as we go.
“Yesterday was tough, to be honest, but it always is. I've been in slightly different situations. I've been the guy coming in and I've been the guy that's away as well.
“Yesterday, for me, was very much a day about coming in, having a chat, doing what we needed to do in terms of physical preparation for the game. We didn't really look too much to Aberdeen until this morning, but yesterday was a tough day.
“What I spoke about this morning with the players was, yes, that is a difficult time, but their jobs are to try and go and win games of football. It's up to us to prepare properly and the players and the staff that are there on a day to go and try and win that game tomorrow, and that's what we'll do.”
Instant success and challenging for honours
Addressing both the departure of Gray, as well as what Hibs should be looking for in a successor, Potter said: “There's a demand for success, instant success sometimes. And it's just the world that we're in at the moment. People have always got decisions to make.
“How the club goes forward, honestly, it's not for me at the moment to decide. That's for the people that run the club and own the club and that's their job to decide how they want the club to move forward.
“Hibs are a brilliant club, they're a really good club - and we want to be towards the top of the league. We want to be winning, getting to finals and semi-finals and we want to get European football.
“That's where Hibs always want to be and in the last few years, a lot of those things happened. But as I said, things can change very quickly and in the modern world, if you've been a manager for a couple of years things can move quite quickly.
“I think when everybody looks back at Dave's time here, he was really successful. After the club had went through a difficult period, a difficult two or three years.
“When he came into the job himself, I think everyone will tell you in terms of his training ground, the feeling about the place, the type of guy that he was, the work that he did. He's raised standards in this place again and it's a good place to come and work. I think everybody in this building will tell you that.
“It's a brilliant club. So I think any manager out there that people would speak about, I just think it's a good opportunity for someone to come in and try and make Hibs a little bit more successful.
“At the same time, David was successful in a lot of those things that we're trying to do. So it's hard, it's difficult.
“It's football in the modern world. Everybody wants that little bit extra and that little bit more. It's a difficult industry, but that's the one that we're in.
“The size of the club that Hibs are, there will always be an expectation to win games of football. European football, top six, cups. That's all there - and that will always be there.
“I just think it's someone who can come in and try and move the club forward a little bit. It's not easy to do, but we'll see what happens.”