Hibernian should follow the example of city rivals Hearts as they search for David Gray's successor as head coach, according to the club's former midfielder Scott Allan.

Gray departed the club after a 1-0 defeat against bottom of the table Kilmarnock. The club's sixth successive home league loss, a run that stretched back to last season.

Hearts appointed Belgian coach Wouter Vrancken as Derek McInnes' successor in the summer, who has instilled an attacking brand of football at Tynecastle.

When asked about who he thought could replace Gray, Allan did not name names, but thinks it should be a coach with a clear "style of play" as Hearts have done.

"There is no getting away from it, they can't get this next appointment wrong," he said. "It has to be the right one and I think the fans will demand that."

Reflecting on Gray's tenure as head coach, Allan says the club's former captain helped "stabilise the club" after three managerial appointments in the space of two years.

Allan also mentioned the "fine margins between being successful and unsuccessful," referencing that Hibs were 13 minutes away from qualifying for the Conference League and the second half of the Edinburgh derby defeat earlier this month as key moments that contributed to Gray's departure.