Lessons from the Past: What Falkirk Must Learn to Survive the Premiership

Falkirk are back in the Scottish Premiership for the first time in 15 years following their title winning Championship season last time out, completing back-to-back promotions from the third tier to the first, but are they ready for their return to the top table? Back-to-back promotions in football are rare, and Falkirk’s rise is a remarkable achievement, but they can present serious structural and sporting challenges, often teams have an imbalanced squad with players reliable at different levels littered throughout the team; many out of their depth due to the team having no time to gel at a level. Two rapid promotions don’t allow a club to gradually evolve its playing style or recruitment strategy. Instead, you’re constantly in firefighting mode, plugging gaps rather than building for sustainability. Take Ipswich Town in last season’s English Premier League for example, they won promotion to the topflight a year after promotion into the Championship but were immediately relegated with a whimper.  The Tractor Boys had players ready for the league like Liam Delap and Sammie Szmodics, but regularly still featured players from their League One days such as Cameron Burgess and Sam Morsy. Falkirk cannot afford to be as sentimental with their squad planning if they hope to survive. January recruit Scott Arfield and summer arrival Scott Bain are good starts, solid Premiership players with plenty of top-level games under their belts, both with league winners medals but will the likes of Calvin Miller and Sean Mackie be able to step up, having previously dropped from that level to League One previously? They excelled in the last step up, but this is a different level altogether. An issue in England are that players suited to the direct, physical style of lower leagues may struggle in a more technical, faster-paced Premier League, but fortunately for Falkirk the gap is not as wide technically North of the border. Within Scottish football there have been two modern examples of teams entering the Premiership after two successive title wins, to opposite levels of success; Gretna in 2007 and Livingston in 2018. Gretna’s meteoric rise through the leagues remains one of the most surreal chapters in modern Scottish football. Bankrolled by Brooks Mileson, they surged from the Third Division to the Premiership in just three years.  But their fairytale was built on sand. Ill-prepared both financially and structurally for the topflight, they were relegated after winning just five matches and collapsed entirely shortly after. A warning from history, if ever there was one. However, the Bairns possess things that Gretna did not, a loyal, sustainable fanbase, and they live within their means, no sugar daddy philanthropist owner who could disappear at any moment. Livingston, by contrast, provide a more encouraging blueprint. Their back-to-back promotions under David Hopkin culminated in an immediate impact in the Premiership under his successor and still incumbent gaffer David Martindale. Pragmatic, aggressive, and tactically coherent, they didn’t try to play like a top-six side, they played to survive, and eventually, for a period, became one of the toughest teams to beat during their last stint in the league.  Smart recruitment and a strong home record on their unique artificial surface were key pillars. In short, they adapted rather than aspired to outplay the opposition. Falkirk will need to follow Livingston’s lead more than Gretna’s dream. Manager John McGlynn, an experienced hand at Championship level, faces his biggest challenge yet.  His teams tend to favour possession and control, but he may need to adjust tactically to grind out results against vastly superior opposition. Stylistic stubbornness, especially early on, could prove fatal, something new Rangers boss Russell Martin discovered during his time in the English Premiership with Southampton last season. Another critical factor will be squad depth. Injuries are inevitable, and a team light on Premiership-quality options beyond the starting XI will be punished.  The spine looks promising, options of Nicky Hogarth and Bain in goal, Arfield in midfield, and Brad Spencer continuing to blossom, but outside of that, there are still major question marks.  Is Gary Oliver ready to lead the line against Premiership centre-halves? Can Ross MacIver control games at this level, or will he be overrun? Falkirk’s support will travel in numbers and with noise, there’s no question this is a club with top-flight infrastructure and fanbase, but sentiment doesn’t keep you up. Realism, ruthlessness, and rapid adaptation do.  If they can avoid early heartache and find a system that maximises their strengths without exposing their flaws, there’s a chance.  But survival won’t be romantic. It’ll be gritty, ugly, and week-to-week, something Livingston and Martindale, who join them in the top flight after they play off victory over Ross County have experienced before. Falkirk are back. But the real battle starts now.

Hearts announce signing of Portuguese forward Claudio Braga

Heart of Midlothian confirmed the purchase of Braga, 25, from Norwegian club Aalesunds FK for an undisclosed fee.  The player departs the Scandinavian side eight games into the OBOS-ligaen season, the country’s second tier, having scored three goals. Braga, who managed 9 in 29 appearances during the previous league campaign, can also play as both a left-winger and attacking midfielder. Derek McInnes, speaking to the Official Hearts Website said: “Claudio was one of our top targets so to be able to bring him in is fantastic. “What’s impressed me in my conversations with Claudio is his attitude and his determination to improve as a player and improve the team. “There is great potential there but also exceptional ability. He is a technically gifted player, he’s got a goalscoring pedigree but is also versatile and can play across the front. “This is an exciting signing and I have to thank the club for giving us the backing to make this deal happen, and I’m very much looking forward to welcoming Claudio to Hearts when we return for pre-season.”

New Dee boss Pressley introduced

Dundee presented new manager Steven Pressley to the media today at the club’s training centre in Gardyne. Appointed as Tony Docherty’s replacement 10 days ago following the former Aberdeen assistant’s dismissal, Pressley cut short a holiday celebrating his silver wedding anniversary to begin his new role, demonstrating his commitment from the outset. He was joined by new Technical Manager David Longwell, who was appointed on the same day. Pressley, who’s position as manager has been heavily criticised by the Dundee support, walked into today’s presser with the calm assurance of a man ready for a fresh challenge, and perhaps, something to prove. The former Dundee United player has now crossed a second derby divide in Scotland, having previously played for both Rangers and Celtic during his career. He will once again be working under Technical Director Gordon Strachan, who managed him during his time at Celtic Park. After five years out of management, his last role being at Carlisle United in November 2019, Pressley has been serving as Head of Individual Development at English Premier League side Brentford since May 2021. He explained why now felt like the right time to return to frontline management. He said: “I think it was just right. I’d done my four years. This was always a juncture in my career, I’ve finished my university degree, my daughter has finished school, and I always had intentions to sell my house this summer. “I’d chosen to leave the role at Brentford to look for other opportunities, and this one arose. “Once I spoke to the club, I just felt it was right, I think it’s a club with really good potential.” While no additions to the coaching team have been confirmed yet, Pressley said he was still “undecided” on who would be assisting him at Dens Park this season. He said: “If you look at my history, my long-term assistant was Neil MacFarlane. Neil is also at Brentford, heading up the B team, and he’s equally at a juncture in his career where his next step might not be as an assistant coach, but as a manager. “The important thing for me is that I’ve got a clear idea of how I want the role to function and the skill set required from the individual. “I’m going to take my time, because I want someone who not only brings those skills, but who will also come in and challenge things, helping the club to grow.” Pressley will be assisted in the meantime by Longwell and Scott Paterson, who remains in his role as First Team Coach.

Pressley Sets Out Dundee Vision as Transfer Window Looms

New Dundee manager Steven Pressley was introduced to the media today at the club’s training ground in Gardyne, giving the former Dundee United defender his first opportunity to address both the press and a support that has been mixed in its response to his appointment. With the transfer window, and the inevitable merry-go-round of ins and outs, set to begin on Monday, Pressley was asked about his thoughts on the current squad and his plans for recruitment this summer. He was also quizzed on the club’s ability to retain key players, most notably Josh Mulligan, who has recently been linked with a move to Rangers. When asked whether he hoped to tie Mulligan down to a new contract, Pressley said he would “love to,” but was quick to admit it would be “easier said than done.” On his existing squad, he said: “We’d love to keep certain personnel. There are several players I think are pivotal to moving this club in the right direction, and we’ll be working tirelessly to do so.” Discussions around summer recruitment are already under way, with Pressley outlining the club’s aims and the type of player they’re targeting. He said: “It’s a very important aspect, and we’re aware that we need to bring players in, but most importantly, we need to bring the right players in. “We have to find a balance between getting them in now and getting the right player in. “We’ll be working hard on that, and there’ll be clear processes in place to achieve it.” No specific names were mentioned, but with his son, Arron, currently playing in England for Stevenage, Pressley was asked whether a family reunion could be on the cards, having previously worked with his son during their time together at Brentford. “I don’t know if he’d want to play for his dad, to be honest!” Pressley joked. “I’ll obviously assess the situation regarding a number of players. “I was involved in the development of quite a lot of young players at Brentford and was fortunate enough to build some strong relationships. “We’ll certainly look at it, but there are no guarantees. “We won’t bring players in just because of my connection, we’ll have to go through the proper process and make sure they’re the right players for Dundee.”    

Record Walking Football Scotland event draws over 900 players

“I’ve often said, see the guy who came up with the idea of walking football, he deserves a knighthood.” Whilst David Beckham’s incoming honours might be grabbing the headlines, for players of the 92 teams travelling from as far as Tain (over 200 miles away from Glasgow), it is the sport’s creator who has had a far more significant impact on their lives. Not just a record breaking event which saw over 900 players involved, Walking Football Scotland’s annual Scottish Cup and Festival represented a coming together of people whose lives have been positively impacted by the sport. Whilst the seven trophies for various competitive categories are no doubt significant, it really is the taking part that counts for those involved. “Three years ago, next week, I had a massive heart attack,” says George Mullen of the Drumchapel United. “I worked with children in care, so I had to retire. And once I retired I was watching ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ and ‘Bargain Hunt’, my mental health was going down like a tonne of bricks.”  Then, a friend suggested he try walking football. “I met a guy, he said to me, ‘Monday morning George, Donald Dewar’ (sports facility in Drumchapel), and I’ve not looked back,” says Mullen, who now plays up to three times a week. “So on a Monday morning I’ll be the Donald Dewar, Tuesday at Scotstoun and a Thursday at Scotstoun.” The impact of socialising cannot be understated , studies show the importance of spending time with other people and the impacts of loneliness. Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that older adults experiencing chronic loneliness had a 56% higher risk of stroke during a 10-12 year period than those who did not. President of Walking Football Scotland Kenny McLean is also keen to extol the virtues of the social side, rather than the results themselves. “This is bringing people out of the house,  getting a bit of activity, but also increasing their social circle, because that’s what most people will speak about”, says McLean.  “They’ll speak about the fact that yeah it’s good I’m getting a kick about the ball, but they’re actually involved now with others that they don’t normally get involved with, they’ve never met them before and here they are kicking a ball about at a time when they probably thought they would never be able to kick a ball.”  For Bridges, the camaraderie has taken him as far as Albufeira, Portugal, as Drumchapel represented Scotland in the European Cup. “You see the social side of it is great. We have a night at Christmas and the boys all meet up every now and again.  After the games we all go for tea and coffee and we sit and the banter, as you can imagine, is very good.” Walking football Scotland established in when, but the event’s popularity is emblematic of the growth of the game, accelerating at a pace that belies its name. “We are so lucky that we’ve got this facility for a start, that we can bring all these people together,” says McLean. “But this isn’t just one thing, we have roughly around 6,000 people playing walking football recreationally throughout Scotland. We have a league structure throughout the year, so we have 1,500 people registered for that.” So popular was the single day event however, that there is a waiting list for teams trying to join. Increased numbers has also meant more inclusive events. The Parkinson’s Scottish Cup made its debut at the weekend, with the title claimed by the Glasgow Life team. The tournament itself is mixed but there is a women only category as well as non-competitive, which allows disability teams such as Ardler from Dundee to enjoy “the huge benefits out of it” according to volunteer coach Neil Whitton. “Our club’s for the people that are mentally and physically disabled, so it’s more of a social thing than a football thing.” “The guys that come along to our group, some of them, they don’t get out and about a lot where there’s mass socialising and that,” Whittmore said. “That’s what we tend to focus on more than anything else, more than the competitive side of it.” That’s not the say the sport is a mere walk in the park, Maree Todd doubling as both a player and an MSP. “I’ve only played once and I could hardly walk the next day,” says Todd, “I can give all the health messages in the world but people play sports because it’s fun!” “Come along and give it a try, you don’t have to have any skills. I’ve just proved that today out there today.” Speaking to women who might feel some reluctance to get involved in the sport, Todd says: “Just come along, have a try. What you’ll meet is an amazing bunch of women and men who are just eager to have fun and re-discover a passion for sport.” Far from closed circles, clubs are more than happy to bring new players onboard according to Mullen. “I thought at first when I walked into Drumchapel, me knowing I might have been a wee bit cliquish. Come in, come in, they welcomed me with open arms, brilliant!” “It’s unbelievable, beyond my wildest dreams after what I’ve been through.” For those interested in finding out more, visit https://www.walkingfootballscotland.org/ .

Rangers Women announce departures

Rangers have confirmed that five listed players will not be at the club next season. Chelsea Cornet, Victoria Esson and Tessel Middag depart after reaching the end of their contracts. They join Jane Ross, who announced her retirement during the double cup winning campaign and Charlie Devlin, who will be returning to Birmingham City following her loan spell.

Hibs sign Austrian keeper Raphael Sallinger

Hibernian have announced the signing of 29 year old keeper Raphael Sallinger from Austrian Bundesliga side TSV Hartberg on a three year deal.  The keeper will challenge Jordan Smith for the starting berth after Josef Bursik returned to Club Brugge following his loan spell. Speaking about the signing, David Gray said: “We’re really pleased to bring Raphael to the Football Club. “He’s a talented goalkeeper that has a number of positive attributes, and he performed excellently in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. “He will provide healthy competition in the goalkeeping department, which will benefit him and Jordan Smith.”

Academy graduate Beth Rennie among four leaving Hearts Women

Heart of Midlothian have announced that Naomi Powell, Beth Rennie, Lisa Robertson and Ashleigh Williams will not be at the club next season.  After spending the season on loan at Dundee United, academy product Rennie will continue to build on her progress away from the Jambos. Powell and Robertson leave the club after just one season, having joined from Hibernian and Celtic respectively with Williams arriving as recently as February from the Texas Tech Raiders. They follow keeper Charlotte Parker-Smith and defenders Emma Brownlie and Addie Handley in leaving the club, after the trio’s departure in May.

‘This was the one I really wanted’: Russell Martin unveiled as the new head coach of Rangers

After weeks of speculation and negotiations, Russell Martin was appointed as the new head coach of Rangers on a three-year deal. The 39-year-old was unveiled at Ibrox and was the club’s ‘stand out choice’ after a lengthy interviewing process. The former Southampton boss had a short six-month spell as a player at the Light Blues in 2018 and now he’s returned in a different capacity. Martin was sacked by Southampton last season and once the opportunity came up to manage the Govan club he knew instantly ‘this was the one I really wanted.’ The Norwich City legend understands the expectations for success from the Rangers faithful and that’s what he’s aiming to deliver: “I’ve managed three clubs, all with the same concept of the game – to be the aggressor with the ball and without it. “They all played different shapes and different people making up different positions. “We are here to win, and we will do that in the best way we possibly can. “That is what Rangers fans expect, to be really aggressive, really intense, really passionate, really hard-working first and foremost. “I know the expectation here is to win. We want to do that in a way that’s aligned with how we want to feel about the team and how Rangers fans want to feel about their team.” There has been much negativity surrounding Martin’s appointment, but he is aiming to prove the doubters wrong and bring success back to Ibrox: “My job is to give them a team they identify with, and they are proud of. A team that wins. “A team that’s going to give everything. One thing that’s always overlooked with our teams is they always run the most out of possession, because they have to if they want to dominate the ball and be aggressive. “It’s not a given, it’s an attribute – you need to work hard, not everyone has that. We want people like that to come to the club. “To the fans, I have to win. I don’t think I’ve been the number one choice at any club I’ve been at. By the time we’ve left every team I’ve been at, we’ve formed a real connection with the supporters. I hope this will be the same. “My whole playing career was based on hard work and resilience. It was not done on talent. “I have a lot to prove. My whole career has been based on proving people wrong. I got to the Premier League as a player, played international football. It’s the same as a manager. “I feel after five-and-a-half years of being a coach and a leader, I love doing it. I will be all-in here with my energy and my love for it. Hopefully it will reflect on the pitch.” Martin knows he will have to hit the ground running as it’s well documented that managers don’t get any sympathy or time whilst managing one half of the Old Firm. The former Scotland international has the opportunity to become a Rangers legend as the club embark on a new era to bring the glory days back to Ibrox.

Russell Martin set to be confirmed as Rangers boss

Former Southampton manager Russell Martin looks set to be become the next Rangers manager after a drawn out process, pipping front-runner Davide Ancelotti to the role.  Martin, 39, has been out of work since his sacking in December 2024 as Southampton sat bottom of the Premier League before their eventual relegation. However, it is understood that the manager’s playing style, which emphasises possession and pressing, has been an important factor in the decision. The news comes just four days after a U.S. consortium led by the owners of the San Francisco 49ers, completed its takeover of the Glasgow club. Having had a loan spell at Rangers in 2018 during a playing career which saw the midfielder earn 29 caps for Scotland, Martin experienced a rapid rise in the dugout moving from MK Dons to Swansea before winning the Championship play-offs with Southampton in 2024. Supporters will be hoping that the appointment can bridge the gap with league runaways Celtic as well as provide some continuity, with none of the four permanent managers since Steven Gerrard reaching two years in the job.