Falkirk

Falkirk boss John McGlynn insists Ross MacIver is not for sale, with interest in the striker from Scottish rivals and English clubs. (Daily Record), external

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"Outstanding" midfielder Brad Spencer has committed his future to Falkirk by signing a new two-year deal upon their Premiership return.

Spencer, 29, played every minute of the Bairns' title-winning campaign last term and was named Championship player of the year.

He is now tied down until summer 2028, with the option of a further year, and has been an integral part of John McGlynn's team since joining from Raith Rovers two years ago.

Spencer scored the crucial penalty against Alloa Athletic in the final game of the 2023-24 season to ensure Falkirk were 'Invincible' in their League 1 title win.

Manager McGlynn said it is "great news for every Falkirk fan" that Spencer, who captained the Bairns for most of last season due to Coll Donaldson's injury, is staying.

"It shows his commitment to the football club," McGlynn added.

"Brad's been outstanding from the moment he walked in the door, he's been a key player on the pitch, and he's been amazing off the pitch as well.

"It's great news for every Falkirk fan that Brad has extended his contract."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee defender Luke Graham says his experiences playing first-team matches have helped him progress far more than academy football would have done.

The 21-year-old has had successful loan spells at Lochee United, Albion Rovers, Montrose and Falkirk – where he was part of the Bairns' Championship winning squad last season.

He says he has come back from each one of those stints as a "new player".

"Just playing games week-in, week-out, it is going to make you a better player and I feel like it did that for me and it was just a really great experience," said Graham.

"For me personally, I feel like going out and playing men's football is the best thing for you.

"I have done that three or four times now and I feel every time I have come back a new player."

Graham hopes those experiences can help him to establish himself at Dens Park under Steven Pressley.

"As a centre-back you are not going to go in to a Premiership game after playing under-19s football. It is just not the same thing - you are going to get bashed about.

"So I feel like you learn a lot from just going out and playing men's football."

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Falkirk's "attractive style" made Lewis Neilson "excited to come back" to the newly promoted Scottish Premiership club.

The versatile defender has signed on loan from Hearts after spending a brief spell with the Bairns in 2021 during their difficult time in the lower leagues.

The 22-year-old is "delighted to be back under different circumstances" and is backing the team to have a positive campaign back in the top tier.

"It looks like we could potentially have a good season after the first couple of games," said Neilson. "We're playing a really attractive style which made me excited to come back.

"I saw the size of the club the day I was in here [four] years ago. They've always had the support and the facilities to go and achieve in the Premiership. Hopefully we can do that this season."

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Hat-trick hero Dylan Tait "certainly delivered" for Falkirk after being given "extra responsibility" in their 7-0 win over Brechin, says manager John McGlynn.

Tait was handed the captain's armband for the Bairns' League Cup group opener against the Highland League side and went on to score a treble.

The 23-year-old midfielder netted Falkirk's second before bagging two more goals in the second half at Glebe Park.

McGlynn said he "could not have asked for any more" from his players, but the manager "won't get too carried away" by the win.

And Tait was singled out for "absolutely" standing up to the challenge after being handed the captaincy

"He took on the captain's armband. We gave him extra responsibility," McGlynn said.

"He certainly delivered. There were a lot of good performances, though."

Several clubs on both sides of the border have made enquiries about the availability of 26-year-old Falkirk striker Ross MacIver, who was on the scoresheet in Saturday's 7-0 hammering of Brechin City in the Premier Sports Cup. (Daily Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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We asked you for your views following Falkirk's emphatic, seven-goal season opener against Brechin City in the Premier Sports Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Nathan: Sunshine and seven goals, can't ask for more. Thought we put in a professional performance and could've been more. New signings Neilson and Cartwright both impressed me as well.

John: Falkirk flying, brilliant. Can't believe young Ross MacIver doesn't get a start, he's top drawer.

Jim: Annihilation. McGlynn is a maestro. Falkirk will be no pushover in the Premiership.

James: Professional display. Showed respect to Brechin by playing major players. Played good football. Great team effort.

Dave: Good all round professional performance. Still early in the season but impressed by the attacking intent.

John: Could be in for a good season...

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Henry Cartwright will add that "gritty, steely determination" to the Falkirk midfield insists manager John McGlynn as he joins on a season-long loan from Leicester City.

Cartwright, 20, made 25 appearances in Premier League 2 for the Foxes and scored six goals last season.

McGlynn says his style is "a little different" to what the Bairns already have.

"Henry is a ball playing, high intensity, ball winning central midfielder who has the profile we were looking for," McGlynntold club media.

"His style is a little different from what we've got but will definitely compliment our midfield.

"He is more than capable of making the passes to keep us on the front foot and testing our opponent's, but will add that gritty, steely determination to win challenges in the centre of the pitch.

"He will do the defensive side in midfield that we've not needed that much in the last three years, but that we will need this season in a much more physical league."

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Scott Arfield scored the only goal as Falkirk defeated St Johnstone 1-0 in a pre-season friendly at McDiarmid Park.

The Bairns are replacing Saints in the Scottish Premiership this season after winning the Championship.

John McGlynn's side start their competitive campaign away to Brechin City in the Scottish League Cup on Saturday (15:00).

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Lewis Neilson can "make Falkirk better" says manager John McGlynn, as the defender joins on a season-long loan from fellow Premiership side Hearts.

Scotland Under-21 international Neilson has made 23 appearances for the Tynecastle club since joining from Dundee United three years ago.

When at United, Neilson had a loan spell with the Bairns and made eight appearances.

The 22-year-old spent the first half of last season on loan at St Johnstone before returning to Gorgie and McGlynn says he has gained "a lot of experience for a player so young".

"I'm delighted to get Lewis in," McGlynn told club media.

"He's a player we've had our eye on for some time and he fits a lot of the credentials that we're looking for.

"He's gained a lot of experience for a player so young. He's played a lot of games, particularly in the Premiership.

"He's got a lot of football in front of him, he's someone that I feel can make us better, and it's a good opportunity for him to continue his development."

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Brian Graham was on target as Falkirk enjoyed a 4-2 home friendly victory over Raith Rovers.

The 37-year-old summer signing finished off a great pass from Dylan Tait for the Bairns second goal, 10 minutes into the second half.

Lewis Vaughan had opened the scoring for the visitors, with Ethan Ross finding a quick response.

Jordan Doherty headed in a Dylan Easton free-kick to make it 2-2.

Brad Spencer then lashed the Bairns back in front with fine strike from 18 yards and Ross MacIver added a late tap in after good work from Alfredo Agyeman.

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Two penalties helped Falkirk come from behind to defeat League 1 outfit East Fife in Methil on Tuesday night.

Veteran striker Alan Trouten fired Dick Campbell's hosts ahead before Calvin Miller's spot-kick and captain Brad Spencer's neat goal had the Bairns in front at the break.

Aidan Nesbitt extended the visitors lead in the second half, before Gregor Nicol nicked one back with 20 minutes to go.

Defender Sean Mackie was fouled in the box minutes later and half-time substitute, Scott Arfield, scored the second penalty of the night.

John McGlynn's side have two more friendlies Raith Rovers on 5 July (15:00) and St Johnstone three days later (19:30), before their League Cup group stage campaign kicks off on 12 July with a trip to Brechin City.

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Scott Arfield says there is "absolutely no doubt" Falkirk will "surprise a few people" on their top-flight return.

The 36-year-old midfielder returned to Falkirk in February, 15 years after leaving, and played a key role in the club's promotion.

"It is exciting times for everybody connected to the football club to see this team back in the top division," the former Rangers player told BBC Scotland.

"To see the enthusiasm and positivity through their eyes, you relive it again. Some of [the fans] have probably never seen the club in this division, they're that young, it's going to be amazing for them to see it.

"You're excited for them to give them that back, and obviously as a professional player coming into the twilight years, you try and relive it again and enjoy it as much as you can.

"There's absolutely no doubt we'll surprise a few people, but we need to have one eye on the calibre of player and the teams we're playing against this year."

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BBC Sport has taken a look at which players will be free agents on 1 July.

The majority of major football leagues run from late summer to late spring, with pre-season in June and July. Therefore, contracts across most divisions typically expire at 23:59 on 30 June each year.

Those whose contracts are expiring but have already agreed transfers to new clubs are not included, as they will not become free agents.

Some Scottish Premiership contracts expire on 31 May rather than 30 June - the below players either already are or will become free agents.

Aberdeen: Tom Ritchie

Celtic: Greg Taylor

Dundee: Scott Fraser, Antonio Portales, Joe Shaughnessy

Dundee United: David Babunksi, Allan Campbell, Lewis Moult, Bryan Mwangi

Falkirk: N/A

Hearts: Jorge Grant, Barrie McKay, Lawrence Shankland

Hibernian: Maksymilian Boruc, Junior Hoilett

Kilmarnock: Kyle Magennis, Kieran O'Hara, Kyle Vassell

Livingston: N/A

Motherwell: Moses Ebiye, Harry Paton, Dominic Thompson, Davor Zdravkovski

Rangers: Adam Devine, Tom Lawrence, Ianis Hagi

St. Mirren: Dennis Adeniran, Elvis Bwomono

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Falkirk were given "a wake-up call" in their defeat to League 2 side Edinburgh City, says assistant coach Paul Smith.

The Bairns were three goals down at home to Michael McIndoe's City, and despite a late rally, the Premiership new boys couldn't force a draw.

"A wee wake-up call for us," he told club media post-match.

"Defensively, we defend as a team so, when they're picking on the back four or whatever, we defend from the front, but we gave away three very, very poor goals the first half, which, gets the players a wee bit restless.

"Even in the first half, we had a lot of chances as well. I think were very poor in both boxes.

"It's a wee kick up the backside that we know we'll have to go and do things better.

"We can't let our standards drop and our standards certainly dropped in the first half."

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Despite a strong second-half, Falkirk couldn't recover from three goals down at the break against Edinburgh City, losing 3-2 in their pre-season run-out.

It was a strong line-up put out by John McGlynn in their fifth friendly before the new season starts with the League Cup group stage in a few weeks.

Trailing 3-0 at half-time, a Scott Arfield strike and a City own goal threatened a comeback, but it wasn't enough.

They face East Fife on Tuesday night in Methil in another friendly.

Falkirk: Bain, McCann, Lang, Graham, MacIver, Agyeman, Yeats, Tait, Mackie, Miller, Arfield.

Substitutes: Hogarth, Adams, Henderson, Spencer, Nesbitt, Stewart, Oliver, Allan, McCrone.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Falkirk boss John McGlynn only expects to add another three players to his Bairns squad, trusting a lot of the squad that won promotion from the Championship last season.

Scott Bain and Brian Graham have been the only additions so far this summer, two experienced operators joining from Celtic and Partick Thistle respectively.

"We're going to have a continuity within our squad," McGlynn told BBC Scotland. "We're not going to make loads of changes. We've made two.

"We expect to bring in another three to give us a boost to help what we've got. But that continuity, the players' camaraderie and the togetherness that they've got, we're relying a lot on that."

The manager also pointed out the difference between Falkirk coming up as compared to Dundee United the season prior.

"We have the example of Dundee United going up and doing particularly well. There's an example there that you can go up and do well.

"Now, Jim does very well in that market, bringing in the foreign players. We've not got plenty of foreign players coming to us, but he's had that at Aberdeen, he's got trust in the people that he's dealing with there."

"That's further down the line for us. We're still focussing on UK players, looking at some loan deals still to materialise.

"But that's really, really important. Recruitment is important. We didn't do a lot coming up from League One and the team went out and produced. It is a big step."

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Falkirk will visit third-tier East Fife on Tuesday (19:30 BST) as part of their pre-season schedule.

John McGlynn's top-flight newcomers will also host fourth-tier Edinburgh City on Saturday (14:00 BST) and Raith Rovers on 5 July (15:00) before visiting St Johnstone three days later (19:30).

Falkirk kick off their competitive campaign on 12 July with a trip to face Brechin City in Group A of the League Cup.