Gray the man to address Hibs’ fragile mindset – Bartley

David Gray’s understanding of the demands at Hibernian will be a “massive help” for the new head coach, says former club captain Marvin Bartley.

A former team-mate of Gray, Bartley feels there has been a mentality issue at Easter Road in recent seasons, but he believes the new boss is the man to address that.

Following several stints as interim manager, Scottish Cup-winning skipper Gray has started his spell as head coach with back-to-back five-goal League Cup group wins against Elgin and Queen’s Park.

“David’s been out there on that pitch and he understands the demands,” Bartley told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.

“He understands what you have to do day in, day out to be successful at that football club, so I think that’s a massive help.

“That was the one thing when I went into that football club, coming up from England. It’s no secret people down in England look down on Scottish football as if it’s Sunday league.

“And I feel Hibs have signed too many players who have maybe come with that attitude. And when you come with that attitude and realise it is a lot tougher than you expected, it’s very, very difficult to then flip that mentality.”

Bartley says Gray will be a boss who constantly reminds his players of the “standards they have to set” and is backing his former side to finish in the top five.

But “the biggest thing” he wants to see is for “the club win ugly”.

“We all want to see free-flowing football,” Bartley adds. “But there’s nothing better than going home and seeing your team grind out a 1-0 win, people throwing their bodies on the line and blocking things.

“Then you can go home and say: ‘That’s my team and that’s what I want to see’. I think that’s what they need to do.”