Latest news with #Falkirk
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
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 ago. Advertisement Since then, the trajectory has almost entirely been one way. Upwards. Under McGlynn, Falkirk are reborn and now take their place at the top table of Scottish football for the first time in 15 years. With 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. Advertisement "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 One. In 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. Advertisement 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 hesitation. Advertisement Continuity 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." Advertisement 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 2010. Three 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 awards. Advertisement McGlynn 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 Scott Arfield came through Falkirk's Academy before moving on to Rangers and Burnley [SNS] 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. Advertisement "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.
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.
Daily Record
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Brad Spencer reveals the Falkirk title message from Brian Graham moments after Patrick Thistle heartbreak
The then-Thistle striker had dealt a hammerblow to the Bairns title hopes - before joining them in the Premiership for the new season Brad Spencer trudged off the pitch with his head spinning and Brian Graham's consoling arm draped round him – but kind words were the last thing on his mind in Maryhill. A stoppage-time sickener from Partick Thistle substitute Terry Ablade had sealed a 2-1 defeat – Falkirk 's third winless clash – putting the title party on ice and giving Livingston a shot at reeling them back in. The Bairns had looked nailed on for the crown at the outset of April but as the whistle blew at Firhill, Spencer could only stew. Then came Graham, Thistle's co-boss and the man who had opened the scoring, offering a few words of solace. Spencer's first instinct may have been to tell him where to go – little did he know that place was Falkirk in a summer double deal along with former Celtic keeper Scott Bain. John McGlynn's men held their nerve a week later for title glory and a long-awaited return to the top flight as Spencer, now 29, capped it all by being named PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year. Looking back, that chat with Graham didn't sting for long – in fact, he's grateful for it now. The vice-skipper said: 'Brian came up to me after the game at Firhill. I was speaking to him before about the Player of the Year and stuff like that. 'He said something about it being a great year for myself and then 'just go on and win it', he's 'desperate for us to win it', we deserve to win it and 'you'll go get the job done next week'. In the end we did. 'I definitely had different words in my head than those that came out at the time to tell Brian just because I was annoyed at how the game went! 'He was being professional, it was lovely words and in the end there were people who were rooting for us to go out and do the job because we consistently were the best team in the league. It was nice from Brian. 'Looking back now, it was the best way we could've done it – at home in front of our fans and enjoying the night like that was magic. 'Taking it into the last game obviously wasn't good at times for people's nerves but we always had strong belief in the squadwe would get it done.' Now Spencer reckons the old guard – 37-year-old Graham, 36-year-old Scott Arfield and 33-year-old Bain – can form a solid spine for a young squad stepping into the big time. He added: 'I've known Brian for a while. Playing against him, you get to chat. 'Scott seems a lovely lad also, another good character the gaffer has picked. He's got a knack of picking good players to have around the dressing room. It would be daft not to lean on their experience. 'They've both been around the game for a long time, along with Scotty. It's an experienced group, compared to last year when we were a wee bit younger. 'We've got a wee bit of a mixture – we've got pace, we've got experience. It's exciting. 'We had success last year against a couple of Premiership teams and still played our way in those games. At times wehad to sit in, soak up a wee bit more pressure and rely on a wee bit of luck or Nicky (Hogarth) to make saves. 'So it's going to be different. We just need to add different strings to our bow and try to find the best way to win games. 'The gaffer has always stressed about keeping the continuity and feelgood factor around the place. If you start ripping everything apart, you're starting from the bare bones. 'Whereas we're two, three years into our journey. We know what to expect from the gaffer and Smudger (assistant Paul Smith) which suits a lot of us. 'It has worked. That's how we get the best out of people like myself, Dylan (Tait), the wingers and everybody else. 'There's no point in coming up and being spooked. It's just about trying to continue what we've done that's got us success.' No one can say Spencer's had it easy as he gets set for his Premiership debut seven years after exiting Kilmarnock without a top-team appearance. The midfielder, who spent his youth career in the States withPortland Timbers and Houston Dynamo, said: 'I've certainly taken longer to get to the Premiership than I'd have liked. 'But everybody's got a different path, there are late developers. I came back from America and I was wet behind the ears, didn't know enough about professional football and playing the men's game. 'It shows there are people out there who just need a chance and they can do well.'
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Paddy Martin is loving life as a Spartan
Paddy Martin getting put through his paces. Picture: Mark Brown Goalkeeper Paddy Martin admits he is embracing every minute of working under Spartans manager Dougie Samuel. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The 26-year-old penned a contract with the Capital club last month following his departure from Bonnyrigg Rose and hasn't looked back since. The former Stenhousemuir and Falkirk shot-stopper can't wait for the new campaign to kick off in just over a fortnight's time when Championship outfit Queen's Park are the visitors to the Vanloq Community Stadium on Premier Sports Group A duty. A trip to Premiership newcomers Falkirk is also on the cards later next month. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Martin endured a disappointing end to last season that culminated in Rose being relegated to the Lowland League after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to SPFL League Two newcomers, East Kilbride. Spartans manager Dougie Samuel However, he is determined to look forward under the stewardship of Samuel. "Relegation is something you'll always look back on and never be fine with it," he told the Evening News. "You think about if you could have done something differently so it was tough, that's for sure. But you have to look forward because football can turn on you very fast. It was a very enjoyable time at Bonnyrigg, but I hardly got a good run because of my fitness and injury. I need to get back to the place where I can play a lot of games. I hope they can get promoted next season. They're a brilliant club and a very well supported one at that. "I was keen to stay in the SPFL. I want to be challenging myself and playing at a level I know I can do well at. Better players put bigger demands on you so that's what's exciting with Spartans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Dougie and I had a really good chat. He's very honest and authentic. He leaves you in no uncertain terms on how he believes football should be played and what he expects from you. But he's also really keen on development. "I've been really impressed so far and I said that to the gaffer after the first week. Everything is so professional. You know in advance what the schedule is and what you're going to cover in a training session. It's explained to you why you're doing the drills and I think that's been one of the main takeaways. But there's some really strong players in the squad, both technically and physically. It's exciting to be a part of so hopefully it can all come together." Martin acknowledged he has a fight on his hands if he is to wrestle the gloves off club stalwart Blair Carswell. He is hoping for some game-time when Ayr United visit on Tuesday in Spartans first pre-season fixture. He said: "The gaffer was very clear that he doesn't believe in having a No.1, in the same way that having a centre forward who is going to play every week. It's just not the reality of football. Blair did really well last season so it's not as if I've joined a club who are leaking goals every game. There is a really strong defence too so there's going to be that competition that will benefit us both. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Having finished fifth last season, we need to be finishing in the play-offs as a minimum. I think you really bed in with your team-mates when the games start so we're looking forward to getting going against Ayr. The potential of this club is huge and the opportunity is there to really maximise that."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Orders not enough to keep Alexander Dennis in Scotland, says boss
The managing director of struggling bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis has said that hundreds of new orders may not be sufficient to keep its Scottish sites to MSPs, Paul Davies said the company would need to win at least 70 new orders this year and 300 next year to keep its Falkirk and Larbert operations he said this alone may not be enough and he could not commit to keeping the sites company proposed moving operations to Scarborough in England a fortnight ago. However, Mr Davies stressed to Holyrood's economy and fair work committee that the Scottish closures were "absolutely not a done deal".This is the first time that he has spoken publicly since the company announced the is proposing to close Falkirk and cease manufacturing in Larbert with the loss of about 400 jobs. Manufacturing would be centralised at its Scarborough operation which has the capacity to produce around 1,200 buses a year. Mr Davies is the president and managing director of Alexander Dennis. He answered questions for about 90 minutes along with the company's marketing director, Debbie committee convenor Colin Smyth MSP asked him what it would take to keep production in Davies said the issue was demand. He said: "We do not have sufficient volume in the order book to sustain two manufacturing sites in the UK."He was then asked if the company could give an absolute commitment to keep Falkirk and Larbert open if it secured a sufficient number of new Davies could not give such a commitment and said there were wider implications for the company to he stressed the closure of Falkirk and Larbert was "absolutely not a done deal. It's a consultation process." Unions have called for the 45-day consultation process to be extended - the plants are due to shut for two weeks from Fridau because of the local holiday in Falkirk. The company has not ruled this Davies also justified the plan to consolidate activity in Scarborough rather than said Scarborough was a much larger site which was capable of producing the company's whole product range. He said there was not much difference between the Scottish sites and Scarborough when it came to productivity and Davies said: "We spent the best past of last year spending £8m transforming Larbert. We would never have made that investment had we expected this situation to have unfolded."Ms McCreath said Larbert was only designed to build double deck buses while Scarborough could also build single deck also said that Larbert was a production line but did not have the complete finishing facilities the company would require. Bus firm raised in Commons The company said it first informed the Scottish and UK governments on 23 May that it was considering consolidating work in proposal, Mr Davies said, was entirely from the company's executive team in the UK. He also said the company had not made a profit since and government ministers have discussed the possibility of a time-limited furlough scheme to allow the company time to win new orders which could be produced at Falkirk and Dennis was also raised in the House of UK transport minister told the Commons it was really important that governments at all levels support British manufacturing as concern grew over the future of Alexander Dennis in Lightwood MP said his officials have been in close contact with the company over its comments came after Labour's Alloa and Grangemouth MP, Brian Leishman, said changes to policy and legislation could save the jobs.
