David Gray drops Hibs manager 'conversation' hint as Lee Johnson successor has the tools for top six assault

David Gray praised his Hibs’ side for putting their first Premiership win on the board and reckons it shows the next manager will inherit a squad that can be challenging at the top end of the table.

The first-team coach was asked to take the team for the second leg of their Europa Conference League defeat at Aston Villa and this clash at Aberdeen. The caretaker watched as his subs Adam Le Fondre and Christian Doidge came off the bench to fire them to a Pittodrie win.

Gray knows it will now buy the Hibs hierarchy some time as they step up their search for a new manager, to replace Lee Johnson who was sacked last month. Gray, who is caretaker for a third time, said: "I've been asked to do a job, which was the two games, and we've done that.

"It's been tough for the players but the response has been good, the togetherness is good. It's up to the club how they want to proceed but I'm sure I'll have a conversation with them about what's next in the coming days.

"The club was very active in the window; we have a good group and a good squad with a lot of good professionals and a range of experience and youth. The next manager, whoever it is, will inherit a good squad capable of competing at the top end of the table.”

Gray reckons it was the perfect response after a nightmare run. He claimed: “I’m delighted with the three points, the performance, the effort, and the commitment from the players.

"Every single one of them absolutely emptied themselves and gave us everything. The incentive before the game was that we knew our domestic form hadn't been good enough but a win against Aberdeen would take us above them in the league, which is important.”