Embattled Hibs boss fronts up to criticism with 'until someone tells me otherwise' vow after Killie calamity
Six-game run of home league losses ‘equals record from 1920’
David Gray insists he’ll keep giving his all for Hibs – unless and until someone in the Easter Road hierarchy decides to call time on his managerial reign. And the gaffer admits that the club are facing a “difficult time” in the wake of tonight’s miserable home loss to SPFL bottom feeders Kilmarnock.
Defeat saw Hibs suffer a sixth consecutive home league loss for the first time since 1920, according to at least one reliable source of statistics. And plunged Gray’s men into ninth place in the Scottish Premiership after six rounds of fixtures, with bottom side Killie now within two points of their victims here.
Gaffer booed by fans
The gaffer was booed by sections of the home support at a quickly-emptying Easter Road after the final whistle, with fans voicing their anger just days after celebrating progress to a Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Hearts at Hampden. Hibs have more pressing concerns right now, with Saturday’s home game against suddenly resurgent Aberdeen – on the last weekend of fixtures before a long international break – shaping up as a crucial contest for all involved.
Gray, asked if he would request patience from supporters, stressed: “In terms of asking for patience, the fans are frustrated because we're not achieving what we need to be at this stage, and winning enough games consistently, especially at home. And I accept that.
“All I can say is, until someone tells me otherwise, I will be doing everything in my power, everything I possibly can as I have done at this football club, to turn it around. And I believe we can.
“As I've just reminded the players, this is a difficult moment. It's a difficult time for everybody, the players, football club, because we've lost again tonight off the back of a good result the weekend and then failed to back it up again.
“On our home form this season, that's obviously three defeats at home, which we can't shy away from, and the next game is at home again. So it's not as if we've got the opportunity to go away and not feel that noise.
“That noise is going to be there. So it's entirely up to us. But I firmly believe in the group, I believe in what we're doing.
Adversity for everyone
“It’s adversity. It's a difficult moment. You certainly can't be blaming anybody or trying to make excuses.
“I've been in this situation before, I've been through a bit of adversity before, and I'll do everything I can to try and turn us around as quick as I can.
“Whether you talk about leaders, you talk about individuals, this is the group. This is the group, this is what we've got. I believe in the group, I think it's a good group, and I think we can turn it around, I really do.
“I think it's just testing everybody at this moment in time, and it'll continue to do that until we do turn it around. That's the key message to the players just now.
“Don't go home and feel sorry for yourself, thinking I wish I could have done more. That's absolutely not the answer.
“The answer is doing everything you possibly can to give yourself the best chance to put it right as quick as you can.”
Pressed on the boos and complaints from fans, Gray said: “That's the nature of playing for a big football club, and the pressures and the demands. I've been here during difficult times, I've been here during good times, and you can't just say it's brilliant when things are going well and then not expect a bit of criticism when things aren't.”