Falkirk manager McGlynn has set his sights on another top-half finish as the club look to build on a strong first season back in top-flight football after 15 years away. The Bairns ended that campaign inside the top six, but McGlynn is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.
The summer has brought significant change at Falkirk, with top scorers Barney Stewart and Calvin Miller both departing — sold to West Bromwich Albion and Heart of Midlothian respectively. McGlynn acknowledged the size of the task in replacing them. “We can’t do it exactly like for like but we have to try and do something that’s going to get us competing in that top half of the table where we were for most of last season, which will be a challenge,” he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound. “The second season always is.”
Among the new arrivals are experienced Scottish Premiership pair Craig Sibbald and Scott Tanser, both of whom started in Saturday’s 5-0 Premier Sports Cup win at Edinburgh City. McGlynn described it as “a big turnover” but said he was pleased with what the club had brought in so far.
The manager also revealed Falkirk are still waiting on loan signings from England, a strategy that proved fruitful last season. He pointed to the World Cup as a factor causing delays, with clubs holding players back to boost their own training numbers. “We’re just looking for the X-factor now, basically from the guys that we can hopefully bring up from England, guys that have still got a big career ahead of them,” he said.
McGlynn was also keen to highlight the progress the club has made, suggesting it is now an attractive destination for players. “If players see what we’re doing here, you’ve got more chance of attracting players,” he said, adding that while his squad has punched above their weight, they can expect “a little bit more respect” from opponents next season.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
