GRAY TARGETS SILVER LINING AS CLOUDS LIFT AT HIBS
DAVID GRAY knows Celtic’s vice-like grip on silverware has to end sometime — and insists Hibs are capable of pipping them to a trophy this season. The Parkhead club have won the Treble in each of the last three seasons under Brendan Rodgers and then Neil Lennon. But Easter Road captain Gray, whose header famously won the Scottish Cup for Hibs in the 2016 final against Rangers, is hungry for more success in Leith.
And he firmly believes Paul Heckingbottom’s side are ready and able to challenge for both domestic cups this season.
‘Someone will break Celtic’s dominance,’ said Gray. ‘There is no reason why someone else other than Celtic shouldn’t lift a trophy this season — and why not us? ‘At the start of the season we look at ourselves to see what we can do and our aim should be to win the cup. We won the Scottish Cup when we were in the Championship, so we know it’s possible.
‘We need luck, a good draw, but we’ve shown in the past we can do it. In the cup competitions we’re capable of beating anyone on our day. In terms of the league, it’s going to be very difficult because of how dominant Celtic have been for a number of years.
‘But Europe is a realistic aim for us, so our objective this coming season is to finish in a European place and to win a cup.’ Five years ago, Gray joined Hibs just after the club’s disastrous tumble into the Championship under Terry Butcher.
The skipper has since played a pivotal part in not only the Scottish Cup win but the promotion back to the Premiership. Hibs are currently on a high after US businessman Ronald Gordon’s takeover left the Easter Road club debt-free six years ahead of schedule.
And Gray hopes to build on the optimism washing around Leith by clinching a high finish in the league this season. ‘It’s a really exciting time to be at Hibs,’ he said. ‘There’s a real feelgood factor around the club right now. ‘We’ve sold a record number of replica strips and season tickets.
‘The entire club — the staff and not just the players — are working hard to push forward the brand. ‘As I see it, now we have the chance to push on further and get back up the league.’