A summer of change is underway at Falkirk, as the Bairns look to replace key figures who made last season so successful.
Falkirk returned to the top flight of Scottish football for the 2025/26 campaign after a fifteen-year hiatus; not many people expected the Bairns to be successful as they were. John McGlynn guided his side to a top-six finish, and they were in contention for a European spot before dropping off right at the end of the season.
The Bairns also made it to the Scottish Cup semi-final, where they were disappointingly beaten by championship side Dunfermline Athletic.
A hugely impressive campaign for a newly promoted side, however, that success has now come at a cost, with several important players departing the club so far this summer window.
Star players departing
A trio of Barney Stewart, Calvin Miller and Dylan Tait are the most notable names to be leaving Falkirk, all of whom impressed throughout last season.
22-year-old striker Barney Stewart has joined English Championship side West Brom for a rumoured seven-figure fee, whereas Calvin Miller, who had a standout season for the Bairns, has joined runners-up Hearts, and lastly Dylan Tait, who featured in all 38 league matches last season for Falkirk, has joined league opponents Dundee United on a free.
The Bairns were back in action last night as they defeated Airdrieonians 2-1 in their opening pre-season match. Manager John McGlynn had this to say post-match regarding incomings.
“We know that we’ve got a lot of work to do, we know that, and we have been working very hard, and we thought we had one or two over the line and then there’s been just something that’s delayed it, and it’s left us a little bit of not having as many as we would have liked to have had in by now.”
“We continuously work on it, honestly, we are working all the time, so yeah, we understand that it’s a little bit frustrating. It’s frustrating for everyone. We would have anticipated having more players in by now.”
“Like last season, it took towards the end of the window before we managed to get some of them in, and I would like to think we can do it quicker than that.”
As of now, six new players have put pen to paper for the Bairns: midfielders Jack McMillan from Exeter City, Scott Tanser from Saint Mirren, and Craig Sibbald from Dundee United.
Three new additions to bolster the backline, starting with Latvian international Deniss Melniks, Lewis Neilson, formerly of Hearts, both signing permanently and last but hopefully not least for John McGlynn is Ethan Laidlaw, who arrives on loan from Premier League outfit Brentford.
With the start of the 2026/27 Scottish Premiership fast approaching, John McGlynn knows his side needs more reinforcements across the park and will be eager to get several over the line before their opening game against Saint Mirren on the 1st of August.