Latest news with #DundeeUnited
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
McGlynn aims to keep 'punching above weight'
Falkirk have come a long, long way under John McGlynn. Languishing in League One with no sign of revival, their upturn in fortunes rested on the appointment of the former Hearts and Raith Rovers manager three years then, the trajectory has almost entirely been one way. McGlynn, Falkirk are reborn and now take their place at the top table of Scottish football for the first time in 15 just over a month until their opening Premiership fixture against Dundee United, McGlynn tells BBC Scotland about their remarkable journey, and assesses just how far they can go. How will Falkirk approach their top flight test? After back-to-back promotions, adopting an eye-catching, attacking style of play, there's incredible excitement among long-suffering Falkirk fans."We'll respect the league, it's a really tough league, but we want to go up and mix it," said 63-year-old McGlynn. "We know we'll have to punch above our weight but that's what we've done."We're up for it. We're there on merit and want to embrace the challenge and be positive in how we go about things."We want to maintain the style as best as we possibly can."That mentality served Falkirk well after promotion from League preparation for their Championship-winning season, McGlynn cited the example of Ipswich Town to his squad. After promotion from England's third tier, they went straight up again to the Premier League. Falkirk used that template effectively but will look to stop there given the Tractor Boys' recent relegation. However, despite often hearing promoted managers speak of survival as the priority, it's clear Falkirk's ambitions lie beyond that."Who won the league the year before in the Championship," McGlynn asked rhetorically."Dundee United? Where did Dundee United finish? Fourth."We can take them as an example. The year before that, was it Dundee. Tony Docherty did remarkably well, they got top six. "I appreciate they have not been five years in League One but I think there's an example there that you can go up and do well."So what would satisfy McGlynn?"Top six would be an incredible achievement," he said without in the squad has been key to their success and it seems will be a theme again with the experienced Brian Graham and Scott Bain the only additions so far, with a few loan options potentially to follow. Little time for reflection as toughest test looms "It's been a little bit of a whirlwind," McGlynn conceded when reflecting back to those Championship-winning scenes, and everything that's happened along the way in Falkirk's incredible rise."I'm not really sure it's really sunk in. I think it'll be in years to come where maybe you can reflect and think that was a bit of an achievement. The ambition kind of flows on to the next stage and the next stage now is the Premiership."It's worth considering that some Falkirk fans simply don't know what's it's like to be a Premiership club. They were last in the top tier in years ago there was absolutely no sign of the success they've now lived and delighted in."We've done something that is not so easy to do," McGlynn explained."Having to start basically from scratch, coming into a team that was finishing sixth in League One. Two seasons later, invincible and then in the third season getting into the Premiership. "It's a great achievement."That achievement led to back-to-back manager of the year acceptance speeches at the PFA Scotland is the only man with three of those prizes and it's something he seems genuinely taken aback by."Quite embarrassed, actually, to be thinking that I'm the one who's got three," he said."There have been so many great managers in Scotland. Very proud, very honoured, very privileged to be in that position." Falkirk academy returns As Falkirk struggled in the lower reaches, cutbacks had to be made and one area that was controversially scrapped was their youth academy. The place the likes of Scott Arfield emerged from has now been reinstated to the delight of all connected with the club."We're going ahead with a full-scale academy," McGlynn explained. "We're ready to go from under 10, all the way up. "It's huge for the Falkirk public to have their academy back in place. There was a big uproar at the time."It will take time and it might be a few years down the line before we can be producing players that are playing in the first team and possible sellable assets."At least now we have that infrastructure. There's been too many local players going to every other football club because there's been nothing here for them, and now that's not the case."You can hear the full interview with John McGlynn on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound on Saturday 28th June from 14:00 BST.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
United sign 'transformative' Dutch defender Esselink
Dundee United have signed Bert Esselink after 25-year-old centre-half left Stal Mielec following their relegation from the Polish top flight. United manager Jim Goodwin expects the Dutchman, who has signed a a two-year contract with a club-held option to extend for a further 12 months, to have a "transformative impact" on his defence. Advertisement "His mobility and bravery allows him to engage with the opposition higher up the pitch and the statistical data reinforces his intelligence when selecting a progressive passing option," Goodwin told United's website. "Bert is also comfortable defending in a deeper block, using his awareness to remain compact and defend the box both on the ground and in the air." Esselink came through De Graafschap's academy in his homeland before making his senior debut for Cypriot club PAEEK, helping the Nicosia-based club secure promotion to the top tier for the first time. His release clause was triggered by APOEL Nicosia, but he moved to Olympiakos Nicosia in search of first-team football. Advertisement Esselink moved to Poland in 2023 and Unied say that during his two seasons with Stal he ranked among "the division's most successful duel combatants, possession winners and forward-pass completionists". However, playing 28 times last season, 22 of them starts, he could not prevent his side dropping to the second tier after finishing 16th of 18 teams in the Ekstraklasa. "Bert's arrival will have a transformative impact on our ability to regain possession in key areas and play on the front foot," Goodwin added.
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cyprus move paid off as Esselink reaches UK 'target'
Dutch centre-half Bert Esselink believes his decision to ignore advice not to move to Cyprus when he was 20 has paid off after reaching his "target" of playing in the United Kingdom by signing for Dundee 25, Esselink has joined the Scottish Premiership club at the end of his contract with relegated Polish outfit Stal his first interview with United's club website, he explained that, having come through the youth ranks with De Graafschap and having just finished his university degree, he was given the chance to join PAEEK, then in the Cypriot second tier."My girlfriend and I decided to go to Cyprus even though people said don't do it and I am grateful we made that decision at the time," Esselink paid off with a move to APOEL Nicosia, with whom he got a taste of Europa Conference League football."The step to the biggest club in Cyprus was a big one - it makes you bigger as a player," Esselink said. "But there are bigger stages than playing at APOEL."I did not play many minutes, but it was good to experience how much European football can mean for a club."In addition to the chance to play in Conference League again this season, Esselink was attracted to the "history" and "warmth" he felt from Dundee United."When I was young, I always said I wanted to play in the UK," he said. Esselink is not daunted by the Premiership's tough reputation given the Polish Ekstraklasa "style of play is to be aggressive".
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
United sign 'transformative' Dutch defender Esselink
Dundee United have signed Bert Esselink after 25-year-old centre-half left Stal Mielec following their relegation from the Polish top manager Jim Goodwin expects the Dutchman, who has signed a a two-year contract with a club-held option to extend for a further 12 months, to have a "transformative impact" on his defence."His mobility and bravery allows him to engage with the opposition higher up the pitch and the statistical data reinforces his intelligence when selecting a progressive passing option," Goodwin told United's website."Bert is also comfortable defending in a deeper block, using his awareness to remain compact and defend the box both on the ground and in the air."Esselink came through De Graafschap's academy in his homeland before making his senior debut for Cypriot club PAEEK, helping the Nicosia-based club secure promotion to the top tier for the first release clause was triggered by APOEL Nicosia, but he moved to Olympiakos Nicosia in search of first-team moved to Poland in 2023 and Unied say that during his two seasons with Stal he ranked among "the division's most successful duel combatants, possession winners and forward-pass completionists".However, playing 28 times last season, 22 of them starts, he could not prevent his side dropping to the second tier after finishing 16th of 18 teams in the Ekstraklasa."Bert's arrival will have a transformative impact on our ability to regain possession in key areas and play on the front foot," Goodwin added.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Salford sign Huddersfield defender Ayina
Salford City will sign Huddersfield Town centre-back Loick Ayina when his contract with the League One club Terriers announced last month that the Congolese defender would be released after six years on their books, during which time he made two league appearances for the 22-year-old also made four appearances for Boston United on loan and played 12 games each for Dundee United and Ross County in the Scottish who has twice been called up for the Republic of the Congo international squad but has yet to win a cap, will sign a two-year contract for the Ammies.
