Scott Brown names three questions Hibs must ask in next manager hunt as he's left 'devastated' for David Gray
The former Hibs midfielder has provided his verdict on the state of play at Easter Road.
Scott Brown says Hibs decision makers must decide the type of style they want to see at Easter Road as they hunt a new head coach.
David Gray’s sacking last week has left the former midfielder gutted for the club icon who navigated a way to third and fifth-placed Premiership finishes across two full seasons. Gray’s style of play was criticised with rivals like Hearts, St Johnstone and Motherwell adopting more European-based possession approaches.
Hibs meanwhile played with a back three alongside wing-backs predominantly under Gray and three key questions stem over what comes next for the Sportsound pundit. Brown, who came through the ranks at Hibs, believes decision makers must ask what their style is going to be, if it’s attacking or defensive, and what type of leader they want at the helm.
Scott Brown on Hibs sacking David Gray
He said: “Everybody wants to play. Since Pep Guardiola's taken over, the game's completely changed. But for Dave to finish third and fifth, in two seasons, steady the ship, where they were the three or four years before that, I think Dave deserved a lot more time.
“You know how it went last season. It was a slow start to the season, they kicked on, and the season before that as well. Europe takes a lot out of players, especially when they're not used to it, the amount of new players that came in the building. To get given six league games, I'm devastated for Dave, if I'm honest.
”Hibs means loads to me. I've got a lot to thank the club for because if it wasn't because of Hibbs bringing me through, the youth policy, all the younger coaches as well helping me out. And I got very, very lucky. The club is, it's a fantastic football club. It's got a great academy all the way through. Compared to where I used to train, it’s incredible. going down to Hibs training ground.
What do Hibs need in new manager hunt?
“That is brilliant. So you bring in players, but they need to now start showing... what is our style? Is it we're going to play 4-3-3, open football, or are we going to be defensive minded? Are they bringing in a head coach or are they going to bring in a manager and let them dictate what happens?
“So I think Hibs now, they need to have a positive clearout of what they want. Then they have to have the mindset of a football club as well. How we're going to go down the road because Motherwell have done it brilliantly. St Johnstone done it really well as well.
“Here we go, this is how we're going to play, this is our style. It might take six months. It might take a year. It's not going to happen overnight at Hibs now to change everything because Dave's brought a certain player in to play in a back five. It's hard now for any manager to come in to change too much.”