St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari batted away reports linking him with the vacant Hibernian job, saying: "Every time there is some vacancy somewhere, all the coaches will be thrown in." David Gray was sacked by Hibs on Wednesday, becoming the Scottish Premiership's first managerial casualty of the season in the wake of a 1-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock that leaves them ninth in the table on six points after six games. Finn Valakari, who joined Saints in 2024 and oversaw promotion from the Championship earlier this year, is among the early names who have been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Easter Road job.