Hibs boss David Gray says he wasn’t surprised to see rival manager Steven Naismith sacked by Hearts.
Naismith led the Jambos to a third-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership last season and was rewards with a new contract just before the current campaign began.
But the Hearts hierarchy have been left with egg on their face with Naismith leading his side through a horror start to the 2024/25 season.
The former Scotland striker was axed as a result with Hearts yet to win in the league, knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup and losing to Viktoria Plzen in their Europa League play-off tie.
Gray, like Naismith, is a rookie Scottish manager finding his feet in the game having taken over at Hibs at the end of last season.
And he’s been reacting to the sacking of Naismith before Hibs take on Rangers on Sunday afternoon.
David Gray ‘not surprised’ by Hearts sacking
Asked if Naismith’s dismissal – as well as Craig Levein’s at St Johnstone – had dampened his ambition to carve out a career as a manager, Gray replied: “No, no. It’s what you sign up to at the start. You know that when you sign up to it. It’s very much results driven.
“If you look at what Naisy’s done, especially last season, they had a fantastic season. And then, obviously, a run of poor results this season – and it’s the way football’s going at the moment. It’s the pressure of dealing with the job, unfortunately.
“I think it’s never nice when anybody loses a job at all. I’ve been through it at this football club with managers moving on and being moved on – and it’s a difficult period for the clubs and the people involved.
“I think everybody knows when you sign up to this job it is such a result driven industry and cut-throat at times. So it’s never a surprise when anybody does lose a job at times, in certain situations.
“I wish them both all the very best – and I’m sure they’ll still have futures in the game, wherever they decide to go next.”
When is the next Edinburgh derby?
Naismith will be disappointed not to lead his Hearts side out at Easter Road for the first Edinburgh derby of the season.
Hearts will have a new manager by then and it’s likely to be his third game in charge if an appointment is made during the next international break.
The next Edinburgh derby is scheduled for Sunday, October 27 with kick-off at 12pm. Hearts have been dominant in the fixture of late, losing just one of the last 14 against Hibs.
Gray will be determined to end that run and there would be no better time to achieve it given how Hearts have started their season.