Falkirk: John McGlynn sets sights on top six berth

After back-to-back promotions, adopting an eye-catching, attacking style of play, there’s incredible excitement among long-suffering Falkirk fans.

“We’ll respect the league, it’s a really tough league, but we want to go up and mix it,” said 63-year-old McGlynn.

“We know we’ll have to punch above our weight but that’s what we’ve done.

“We’re up for it. We’re there on merit and want to embrace the challenge and be positive in how we go about things.

“We want to maintain the style as best as we possibly can.”

That mentality served Falkirk well after promotion from League One.

In preparation for their Championship-winning season, McGlynn cited the example of Ipswich Town to his squad.

After promotion from England’s third tier, they went straight up again to the Premier League. Falkirk used that template effectively but will look to stop there given the Tractor Boys’ recent relegation.

However, despite often hearing promoted managers speak of survival as the priority, it’s clear Falkirk’s ambitions lie beyond that.

“Who won the league the year before in the Championship,” McGlynn asked rhetorically.

“Dundee United? Where did Dundee United finish? Fourth.

“We can take them as an example. The year before that, was it Dundee. Tony Docherty did remarkably well, they got top six.

“I appreciate they have not been five years in League One but I think there’s an example there that you can go up and do well.”

So what would satisfy McGlynn?

“Top six would be an incredible achievement,” he said without hesitation.

Continuity in the squad has been key to their success and it seems will be a theme again with the experienced Brian Graham and Scott Bain the only additions so far, with a few loan options potentially to follow.