Falkirk

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Falkirk are estimating the change to grass from an artificial playing surface will cost £1.2m after reaching a "tough but necessary agreement with the SPFL".

The governing body recently granted the newly-promoted Premiership side permission to keep their pitch next season should they avoid relegation.

The surface was laid in 2023 before a rule change phasing out Astroturf in the top flight.

A club statement said it was "a difficult compromise to make", going on to thank SPFL pair Neil Doncaster and Callum Beattie for their "cooperation and creativity".

"A package of funding and exemptions was negotiated that will see the transition, should we remain in the Premiership beyond next season, come with a smoother financial landing," it reads.

"The club will still need to raise significant funding which we will need to be creative about."

Falkirk go on to say they hope "similar flexibility is shown to other clubs in a comparable situation", adding: "Scottish football is not well-served by placing further barriers in front of aspirational, community clubs."

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Sam Hart adds "real quality and depth" to the Falkirk squad, says manager John McGlynn, after the defender joined on a season-long loan from Port Vale.

The 28-year-old made 22 appearances last term as Port Vale won promotion to League One.

Hart, who spent time in the youth academies at Manchester United and Liverpool, has previously played for Blackburn, Southend, Shrewsbury, Oldham and Sutton United.

"We're delighted to bring Sam to Falkirk, he's a player with great experience and real versatility," said McGlynn.

"He's someone who can operate at left-back and at left centre-half, which gives us valuable options as we go through the season.

"He likes to get up and down the flank and we know he'll add real quality and depth to the squad."

We asked for your views on Falkirk's business in the transfer window.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: Good window in terms of quality, but still concerned about the quantity. Currently with seven injured, being the smallest squad in the division might end up being an issue.

Donna: Well done everyone at FFC for securing the future of our club in the Premiership. Looking forward to some exciting football.

Frazer: Looks like the Bairns have strengthened the areas that were lacking. Whether or not it's enough remains to be seen. However, after the last couple of seasons I think you've got to have faith in John McGlynn.

Neil: Very happy with who we have brought in, they all look like they will play a big part in the coming season and getting Ethan Williams was an absolute coup. Confident we can have a good season, in John we trust COYB.

John: Some good young players wanting to impress and progress at a club that encourages development. Come new year when some (or maybe all) established players are fit, the competition for places will be interesting.

Tommy: Very happy with the signings that Falkirk has made, especially with the key players that are out for mouths. Well done the management team.

Colin: Could have done with another defender in. We were supposedly after two. Maybe pick up a free agent to help bolster the squad.

David: Would have been nice to see an experienced ball-winning midfielder come in. But lots of pace and potential in the new arrivals. So let's see how they settle in.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

"A week is a long time in football." It's one of the game's oldest cliches, but those words ring truer than ever as far as Falkirk are concerned.

This time last week, many fans - myself included - were getting twitchy and impatient with each passing day at the club's lack of transfer activity.

On top of that, some supporters were beginning to fear we might not have enough quality to compete in the top flight.

Fast forward to the close of the transfer window, and all of a sudden things are looking much rosier.

A trio of loan recruits - Kyrell Wilson, Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi and Ethan Williams - were brought in before our weekend trip to Aberdeen, and Filip Lissah then arrived on deadline day.

The cherry on top of the cake was the Bairns bagging their first Scottish Premiership victory in 15 years courtesy of a 1-0 win at Pittodrie, with Wilson making an instant impact by scoring the only goal.

While one swallow doesn't make a summer, it would be fair to say a maiden top-flight triumph of the season and a flurry of activity on the transfer front has most certainly flipped the mood music at the Falkirk Stadium.

Falkirk completed their transfer business with another raid on Swansea City on deadline day to land defender Filip Lissah on loan.

That took the Bairns' haul to eight new arrivals as they attempt to stay in the Scottish Premiership this season after a 15-year absence.

So with the window now closed, are you pleased with the club's transfer business? Does it leave the squad in good shape for the season ahead - or is John McGlynn light in certain positions?

Share your thoughts here.

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Falkirk have signed defender Filip Lissah from Swansea City on a season-long loan deal.

The 20-year-old signed his first professional contract at the Welsh side in November 2022.

Falkirk boss John McGlynn said: "We're delighted to bring in Filip, he's a versatile defender that can play at centre back and the full back areas.

"We're short right now and are only one injury away from being at the bare bones at the back, so he gives us that cover we need in those positions.

"He's a ball playing defender who has great energy and drive. He reads the game well, but also does well defending situations, which is equally important.

"He joins on a season long loan with a view of developing as a player, and there's no better place to do that than here at Falkirk Football Club."

We asked for your thoughts on Falkirk's Premiership win over Aberdeen.

Here's what you had to say:

Fraser: What a team performance. Henry Cartwright shut them down in the middle of the park, his best game so far. Scott Bain saved us first half, and we were different class second half. Our new-look attack could give some teams real problems. Great time to be a Bairn.

Nathan: Couldn't be prouder of the players and absolutely over the moon to pick up our first three points of the season. Delighted for Kyrell Wilson with his debut goal as well - hopefully this can be the start of something special.

Ian: Good win. I have to say the graciousness of the Dons fans post-match was great. They have quality and will do OK when they get going. For us these are valuable points in staying up.

Andy: Falkirk can only get better by playing against better teams, once they get to grips with the Premiership I'm sure they will be fine.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kyrell Wilson enjoyed the "perfect debut" for Falkirk, scoring the only goal in Sunday's win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Wilson, 20, came off the the bench in the second half to earn the visitors their first top flight victory in 15 years.

"Before the game the manager was talking about how we go out there and we win, how it is going to be massive for us to build on.

"Now people know what we are about."

It was quite the impact from the winger who arrived at Falkirk on a season-long loan from Swansea City last week.

Explaining how the move north came about, Wilson told BBC Scotland: "I was just in bed, chilling, I get a text 'it is done you are going to Falkirk'.

"I came down, got myself set and now we are here, I scored on my debut so I couldn't be happier.

"I think I have done two sessions but it is a good group of lads and I feel comfortable, so I didn't need much time."

"It is a good side, they play football, it suits my style, and they have looked into that as well so for me it feels like the right choice."

Watch all the highlights from Falkirk's 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie as the hosts picked up their first top-flight win in 15 years.

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Falkirk want to land 20-year-old right-back Aaron James on loan from Wrexham. (Daily Record), external

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Manchester United winger Ethan Williams has joined Falkirk on loan after signing a new contract at Old Trafford.

The 19-year-old has agreed a deal that will run until 2028, with the option of a further year.

Williams spent the second half of last season with Cheltenham Town in English League Two, scoring twice in 17 games.

He featured in United's summer friendlies, netting in a 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in Chicago.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn said the teenager is "quick, direct, and has an eye for goal".

The Bairns boss added: "He's a young player of real quality who has been developed in one of the best academies in the world.

"Ethan is a player we've had our eye on for some time, we were chasing this deal since before the window even opened. It's been a long road getting him to Falkirk with plenty of twists and turns along the way, but we always felt it was worth persevering with and we're delighted to finally get it over the line."

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New loan signing Kyrell Wilson's second half strike secured Falkirk their first Scottish Premiership win in 15 years against a 10-man Aberdeen, who faced their third league loss in as many matches this season.

Read the full match report

Have your say here

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "I'm absolutely delighted to come up here and get three points. Everyone is going back down to Falkirk very happy.

"We had to hang in there in the first half, I thought Aberdeen played well but we also defended well and created opportunities. We had to dig in in the first half and we made the extra-man advantage count in the second half.

"I don't think the sending off was malicious, it was an honest attempt on the ball but I haven't watched it back.

"We showed good composure. Aberdeen set up very well and made it difficult for us but we were persistent and kept at it.

"Kyrell Wilson only arrived with us yesterday and goes on the park and gets a goal. He's brought enthusiasm and drive and reaped his rewards by getting a goal.

"Delighted with the win. It's our first Premiership win and we now sit with a win, a draw and a defeat, and that's good enough in this league.

"The win can only do us good. The guys will take a lot of confidence and belief from that. Nice to have a break now and get ready to go again after that."

The Scottish transfer window closes at 23:00 BST on Monday 1 September so there's still time for business to be done.

What do Falkirk need to do before the window slams shut?

Have your say here

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Falkirk have signed Belgian teenager Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi on loan until the end of the season from Sunderand.

The 18-year-old striker recently signed a long-term deal at the Stadium of Light and scored 15 goals in 20 games across the Sunderland's youth teams last season.

He's made one appearance for their first team - in the FA Cup last January, against Stoke City in the third round.

Samuel-Ogunsuyi is Falkirk's sixth signing of the summer - their fourth on loan - and joins strikers Brian Graham, Ross McIver, Gary Oliver and Barney Stewart in the Bairns' ranks.

"Trey is a tall, athletic striker who is different from what we have at the moment in terms of his pace from that central area, he can link the play but also go in behind which is something that I don't think we quite have at the moment," said manager John McGlynn.

"I watched recently in a game where he scored a hat trick. He took the goals extremely well running in behind on two occasions and finishing very well.

"He's still young, at 18 he still has parts of his game to develop and learn about, and I think the experience at Falkirk will hold him in good stead. With any kind of loan deal, you need it to work for both clubs and the player, and that's what we see happening with this move."

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Marko Lazetic could be in the Aberdeen squad for the first time although manager Jimmy Thelin plans to ease the Serbian in gently. Defenders Kristers Tobers and Emmanuel Gyamfi are set to remain sidelined.

Falkirk will include new signing Kyrell Wilson after the winger joined on loan from Swansea but Aidan Nesbitt, who is facing three months out injured, joins Ethan Ross, Jamie Sneddon, Tom Lang, Finn Yeats, Coll Donaldson and Barney Stewart on the sidelines.

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Falkirk midfielder Aidan Nesbitt has been ruled out for about three months after tearing his plantar fascia in training.

Manager John McGlynn is already without several first-team faces, including winger Ethan Ross, and has struggled to get transfers over the line in recent weeks.

The Bairns added four new faces earlier in the summer, but there was a seven-week gap before 20-year-old winger Kyrell Wilson arrived on a season-long loan on Friday.

McGlynn admits it will be difficult to replace Nesbitt's influence.

"Aidan's torn his plantar fascia in his foot in training," McGlynn said.

"It's just something that's cropped up, I think. It's a bit like wear and tear.

"Ethan and Aidan are key players for us. They've been part of our success over the last three years.

"Aidan covers so much ground. He's a buzz bomb, he's all over the place and it's hard to replace that."

McGlynn says injuries have hastened the need for transfer activity.

"That's one of the other bigger reasons why we have to bring more players in because we're sitting with seven injured right now, with these guys added to Jamie Sneddon, Tom Lang, Finn Yeats, Coll Donaldson and Barney Stewart," he said. "It's a drain on our squad."

McGlynn is confident he will be able to recruit at least two more players, including another winger, before the window closes on Monday night.

"There's been a little bit of struggle getting to where we're at, but I think there'll be another couple on top of that."

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Falkirk have signed versatile and "hard working" Swansea winger Kyrell Wilson on a season-long loan deal.

The 20-year-old, who scored once in 15 appearances on loan at English National League side Yeovil last season, could make his debut against Aberdeen on Sunday.

Premiership newcomers Falkirk have been looking to strengthen in attacking areas since Ethan Ross was ruled out with a "serious" injury.

Manager John McGlynn said: "I'm delighted to get the signing of Kyrell Wilson over the line - he's a player that we've been tracking for some time.

"He's can play across any of the three attacking positions.

"Since meeting Kyrell I have really liked what I've seen. I like the attitude he has, he's very much up for it, and we look forward to working with him this season.

"He's a very hard-working winger who comes to give us support in a position where we are a bit short."

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• This will be the first league meeting between Aberdeen and Falkirk since the Dons won 1-0 in April 2010 under Mark McGhee.

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their past 18 home league games against newly-promoted opponents (W10 D7), and are unbeaten in their past 10 (W6 D4) since a 2-1 defeat to Ross County in February 2020.

• Aberdeen have lost their past six league games, their longest such losing run since December 2010 (seven).

• All three of Falkirk's league goals this season have had a different scorer and different assister; no team has more different players with at least one goal or assist in this season's Scottish Premiership than the Bairns (six).

• Aberdeen are the only side without a goal nor a point in the Premiership this season. The Dons last failed to score in their opening three games of a league campaign in 2011-12, last lost each of their opening three in 2003-04, and last lost and failed to score in each of their first three in 2001-02.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

It was Friday 11 July and the eve of the Scottish League Cup group stages getting under way. That was the last time Falkirk signed a player, with Henry Cartwright joining the club on a season-long loan from Leicester City.

Fast forward almost seven weeks and the silence on the transfer front at the Falkirk Stadium has been deafening.

Other than what John McGlynn described as the "fake news" of former Celtic midfielder Ismaila Soro being on trial, there has barely even been a transfer rumour for the Bairns faithful to get excited about.

And as the transfer window clock ticks down, the clamour from supporters on social media for the much-sought-after pen emoji is understandably intensifying by the day.

Yes, McGlynn and CEO Jamie Swinney have made no secret of the club's desire to strengthen their pool of players, but it's easy to see why supporters have become increasingly frustrated with our slow approach over the summer.

Our lack of preparation in getting the squad ready prior to our return to the top flight has already left the team exposed during the early weeks of the season, and we're now facing an almighty scramble to sign new players.

While I don't doubt the club will deliver on their promise of reinforcements over the next week or so, the transfer window hasn't been quite as busy or exciting as most Bairns fans would have liked.

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The SPFL has granted Falkirk permission to use their artificial pitch next season should they stay in the Scottish Premiership at the end of this campaign.

Top-flight clubs voted in May 2024 to phase out the use of artificial pitches, but Falkirk, Kilmarnock and Livingston were allowed to keep them this season.

The league says Falkirk will lay a grass pitch for the 2027-28 campaign, and the SPFL will advance some of its fees to help the club install a new surface.

A statement said the league is "sympathetic" to Falkirk's case, having put down their current pitch in 2023 before the rule change.

"As a fan-owned and newly-promoted club, having to find such a significant sum to replace a perfectly good surface could have threatened our club's future," a Falkirk spokesperson said.

"While we still believe there is a place for high quality artificial surfaces at all levels of the game in Scotland, we also had to act responsibly in the here and now - and that meant reaching a compromise that prevented uncertainty for Scottish football and for our club.

"We hope other SPFL member clubs will be treated with similar flexibility, and thank the SPFL for their cooperation and diligence."

Kilmarnock have stated their intention to lay a grass pitch, while Livingston put down a fresh artificial surface only this summer.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Regardless of the rightful clamour from our fanbase for new signings before the transfer window closes, retaining the services of Keelan Adams could be one of the best bits of business the Bairns do this summer.

Even at this early stage of the season, the talented right-back has demonstrated just how influential a player he is for our team.

Playing with Cumbernauld Colts in the Lowland League only the season before last, Adams did not look out of place when making his Scottish Premiership debut against Dundee United on the opening weekend of the campaign. He played a crucial role in each of Falkirk's two goals that afternoon. He also won us the set piece that led to our goal against Livingston on matchday two.

The 23-year-old has since scored his first goal of the season in spectacular style, netting a stunning consolation strike against Celtic in the Scottish League Cup last Friday night.

It was those types of performances that had a handful of clubs reportedly keeping tabs on the Falkirk full-back when he burst on to the scene during the first half of last season, and I fear it may only be a matter of time before Adams is the subject of more transfer speculation.

Yes, there are question marks over Adams' defensive capabilities, but he is still young and can improve. Lets just hope it's in the navy blue of Falkirk for the foreseeable future.

We asked for your views on Falkirk's Premier Sports Cup defeat by Celtic.

Here are some of your comments:

John: Falkirk defending has been terrible, new players needed.

Alan: Three years ago we were mid-table League 1 and facing the possibility of part-time football. What John McGlynn and the guys have achieved is simply breathtaking. Yes, it's a huge step up this season, especially when you compare playing budgets etc. Tonight will not define our season.