Eddie May Leaves Hibernian After 12 Years of Coaching

Easter Road will say goodbye to one of its quiet constants this summer. Eddie May, a familiar figure across three different decades at Hibernian, will leave his coaching role at the end of June, drawing a line under 12 years of service in the backroom staff.

For Hibs supporters of a certain age, May’s name first belongs on the pitch. Between 1985 and 1989 he pulled on the shirt more than 100 times, a dependable presence in an era that feels a long way from today’s data rooms and performance hubs.

He came back in 2014, this time to shape others rather than to play. Since then he has worked across the academy, player development and the first team, the sort of multi-layered contribution that rarely makes headlines but often underpins them. When Hibs needed a steady hand in the dugout, they turned to him. Twice.

Caretaker Manager

In 2019, May stepped up as caretaker manager on two separate occasions and won three of the five matches he oversaw. Those short spells did not turn into a permanent appointment, but they reinforced his reputation inside the club: reliable, trusted, calm when the noise outside grew louder.

His latest chapter began only this summer. In June 2024, as David Gray was confirmed as head coach, May was named one of his assistant coaches alongside Liam Craig. It looked like a natural continuation of a long partnership. Gray had played under May’s guidance and then worked with him as a young coach.

The bond between them was clear in Gray’s reaction to the news.

"I would like to personally thank Eddie for everything he has done for the club and for the support he has given me over the years, both as a player and a coach," Gray said. "He has been a fantastic mentor, colleague and friend to me over the years and I am extremely grateful for all his support, advice and commitment."

Behind those words sits a broader shift in the coaching structure. Last week, Hibs confirmed the return of John Potter, who previously served as assistant manager to Jack Ross between 2019 and 2021. His comeback adds another experienced voice to Gray’s staff and subtly redraws the lines of responsibility around the first team.

For May, the departure closes a chapter that stretches beyond job titles. This is a man who has seen the club from almost every angle: academy pitches in the wind and rain, first-team dressing rooms under pressure, caretaker stints when results had to come immediately.

May, who managed Falkirk from 2009 to 2010, described his time back at Easter Road in simple, heartfelt terms, calling it "an incredible privilege to work alongside so many dedicated players, coaches, supporters and friends who have made this journey so special".

Hibs will move on with a refreshed bench and a new-old face in Potter. The question now is how they replace something less tangible: the institutional memory and quiet authority of a man who has worn the badge as player, coach, caretaker and confidant.