Eddie May Departs Hibernian After 12 Years of Service

Easter Road will lose one of its most enduring figures this summer. Eddie May, a familiar presence across the club for more than a decade, will step down from his coaching role at Hibernian at the end of June, bringing to a close 12 years of service in his second spell at the club.

For Hibs supporters of a certain age, May is more than just a coach. He first pulled on the green and white as a player in 1985 and went on to make over 100 appearances between 1985 and 1989, a committed midfielder in an era that demanded it. Nearly three decades later, he came back through the doors in 2014, this time to help shape the club’s future rather than anchor its midfield.

Since that return, his fingerprints have been everywhere. Academy work. Player development. First-team duties. May became one of those quiet constants in the background, the kind of figure every club leans on but rarely shouts about.

His most visible moments came in 2019, when he twice stepped into the breach as caretaker manager. Hibs were in flux; May brought calm. Across his two short spells, he took charge of five games and won three of them, steadying the side when it needed a sure hand.

The club turned to him again this summer. In June 2024, as David Gray was confirmed as head coach, May was formally named as one of his assistant coaches alongside Liam Craig. It looked like a natural continuation of a long partnership at Easter Road.

Then came a shift. Last week, Hibs announced the return of John Potter, who previously served as assistant manager under Jack Ross between 2019 and 2021. The move signalled a reshaping of the backroom team and, with it, the end of May’s long tenure.

Gray was quick to underline just how much May has meant to him and to the club.

"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."

Those words reflect the role May has played behind the scenes: sounding board, guide, and bridge between generations of Hibs players and staff.

May, who had a spell as Falkirk manager from 2009 to 2010, chose his own farewell with characteristic humility, describing it as "an incredible privilege to work alongside so many dedicated players, coaches, supporters and friends who have made this journey so special".

Hibernian move on with a reshaped coaching team and a familiar face in Potter returning to the dugout. May moves on too, leaving behind more than a job title. He leaves a legacy woven through the club’s modern era, from academy pitches to first-team dressing rooms. The next chapter at Easter Road will be written without him, but it will still carry his influence.