Falkirk enter their second Premiership season in 15 years with manager John McGlynn under no illusions about the task ahead. The Bairns finished sixth last term, their first top-flight campaign since 2011, but replicating that form looks set to be a major challenge.
What’s changed since last season?
The squad has already seen two of its top scorers leave: Barney Stewart and Calvin Miller both moved to West Bromwich Albion and Heart of Midlothian respectively. McGlynn told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound: “You can’t hold them back. If players see what we’re doing here, you’ve got more chance of attracting players.” The manager added: “We’ve still got a bit of work to do. Big football boots to fill.”
Falkirk have brought in experienced Premiership duo Craig Sibbald and Scott Tanser, who started in Saturday’s 5-0 Premier Sports Cup win at Edinburgh City. McGlynn said: “We’re pleased with what we brought in. A big turnover.”
Why the second-season jinx?
McGlynn pointed to the World Cup fallout as a factor in delayed loan arrivals. “Like a lot of clubs right now we’re still waiting,” he explained. “We had great success with the loan players coming up from England and that’s what we’re kind of waiting on. We’re hoping that’s going to kick in sometime soon.”
The Bairns sit sixth in the Premiership with 46 points from 33 games, 24 points adrift of league leaders Heart of Midlothian. Their recent run reads LLLWL, with the last five matches all lost - including a 2-5 reverse at home to Rangers on 16 May 2026.
Who can step up this term?
McGlynn is now hunting for the X-factor from English loans. “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.” The next test comes tonight against Ayr United at home, the first fixture of the new campaign.
Falkirk scored 45 goals last season but conceded 48, leaving them with a -3 goal difference. Their next step is to tighten up at the back while maintaining the attacking spark that saw them compete in the top half for most of last term.
