David Gray keen for Martin Boyle to leave Hibernian on a high

David Gray is intent on ensuring Martin Boyle bows out on a high after confirming that the long-serving Australia forward will leave Hibernian this summer.

The 32-year-old initially joined Hibs on loan from Dundee in January 2015 and has remained at the club ever since, save for a seven-month spell with Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly in 2022.

Gray revealed on Friday that it was always likely that Boyle would move on at the end of this season after a one-year contract extension was triggered last May.

“I’ve got a brilliant relationship with Boyley, I’ve known him for a very long time,” said manager Gray, who was captain when Boyle first arrived at Hibernian 11 years ago.

“Probably going back to 12 months ago when we had the conversation about the plan for Boyley, we’ve never really come away from that.

“The situation is, he’s out of contract at the end of the season and he’ll be moving on. But what he’s desperate to do is go out on a high, as high as he possibly he can.

“And he deserves to go out that way for what he’s done for the football club. He’s only a couple of games away from 400 games, he’s got 100-odd goals, an incredible servant to the club.

“His mind is on trying to finish on a high, and that would be European football for Hibs if we can try and do that. And also he’s got the carrot of trying to be in the best possible form going into the end of the season with a World Cup coming up.”

Hibernian are currently seven points behind Motherwell in the battle to secure a top-four place and guarantee European football next term.

Fifth place will only be enough if Celtic win the Scottish Cup, so Gray is well aware of the importance of trying to reel in Well, whom they face next weekend.

“Regardless of whether a European place was for fifth, fourth, whatever, we want to try and catch that team in front of us,” said Gray. “That’s not going to change. We’ve still got to play Motherwell twice before the end of the season.

“There’s nine games to go, 27 points. We’re seven points behind. It’s well within our capabilities. But at the same time, you are playing catch-up to a team that’s in good form. I know they lost their last game, but all we can concentrate on is ourselves.”

With Motherwell visiting Celtic, Hibs may have an opportunity to close the gap this weekend as they host bottom-of-the-table Livingston, who are now managed by Gray’s former team-mate Marvin Bartley.

“I look forward to seeing him tomorrow,” he said. “And hopefully, unfortunately, sending him up the road without any points would be ideal!

“He was doing coaching badges around about the same time as me, so it’s no surprise at all to see him going down the management route.

“He’s got an opportunity at Livingston and he’s done well since he came in, and that’s what we need to guard against.”