[The Falkirk FC Thread]

It's nearly a week since we've been officially relegated and what we've heard from the club is:

• "We're playing Rangers in the Reserve League and you'll be paying to get in"
• "Did we mention it's Rangers?"
• Above match being treated a bit more "special"
• A retweet of the praise for Jordan McGhee, our man possessed and in the SPFL team of the week
• The following are leaving and this is who will stay next season

Something that I have noticed over the years is that those in charge at Falkirk often go through periods where contempt for their own fans and paranoia are the order of the day. We're going through that right now and we have people in charge who cannot accept criticism and are in the huff, so dealing with that involves negative treatment towards the fans. I'm sure the likes of ML, CC, AT were not happy at the treatment last Saturday, but then they've not been happy with any criticism from the fans and have axes to grind, big time.

Many years ago, around the time the Internet was becoming a thing, I wanted to set up a website for Falkirk. So, the best thing to do? Call up the club and tell them your plans. What I got then was "we're not spending money on that" and after being told that it was free and fan run, was informed "we're not interested, and there's already a fanzine (which I think had stopped by then)". Only after the liquidation did we see a better approach and you saw that the club was more hospitable towards the fans - certainly as you're in dire straits financially, you want people on board.

But then we see this repeat itself at different times and the level of arrogance which those running the club display to the very people they need verges on the hilarious. We qualify for Europe so we now need a European kit? "Why not, the fans are mugs they'll pay for it". We had a Director of Football (that was Alex Smith's role, if I'm right), then we didn't and then CC has the amazing idea to......consider bringing in a Director of Football.  Our CEO has the cheek to tell us that we're a second tier outfit and that's what we should be happy to fork out hard-earned cash for. Incidents involving fans (such as Dean Shiels, Dennon Lewis) have led to immediate accusations, press releases and then "oh wait, we may have to look again". We have a lawyer in charge, and somehow there's an inability to perform any due diligence - just a "well, we're surprised at how things are, but what can you do?". The use of the stadium for other purposes (Scotland U-21, concerts, rugby) is very infrequent and yet there are those who blow their own trumpets to deafening proportions when we manage to have one gig for some has-been act that will never be sold out.

We all know this, it's no surprise and we do accept it. However, what we can't accept is the lack of any ownership from those determined not to change ownership until they're sure that it suits them. No-one wants to see tears from a chairman, what they want is to hear is acceptance that they got it wrong and more importantly, concrete plans to put it right. To even try and pass off the excuse that the board won't allow a statement to be released is pathetic.

[The Falkirk FC Thread]

As we'll keep Puma, I'm assuming that Central Demolition will be emblazoned on the kit. 

We've got to get The Academy back and reading this statement just shows how clueless are the people in charge:

Far from giving the club an annual cash boost these player sales were just filling a cash hole. A significant chunk of that annual hole was related to the costs of running a full youth development programme. The risk to the club was that if these costs were allowed to continue and we went a full 12 months without transfer or sell on income at or above £400k this would have placed the club at risk of running out of cash.

This is the thing: we already know that we won't be selling several players each year, and if you look at some of the more successful youth programs in football, they're not discovering Neymar Jrs or Mbappes on a frequent basis either. We may not have the financial resources as others do but that £400k is seen as risky, while we've lost thousands on poor purchases, fines and a CEO's salary, just beggars belief.

If the new owner is passionate and more importantly, knowledgeable about the club, then we may see a gradual reintroduction of The Academy. However, I feel we'll end up with the usual up and coming "Premiership prospects" with the passion to turn up, run around, pose and then look deflated/puzzled/lost following questionable results.

It might just get us promoted though.

[The Falkirk FC Thread]

Who do we have on long-term contracts (as in until the end of next season)? If I remember rightly we have:

McShane

MacLean

I'd love to see Lavery get the opportunity if Everton let us have him, but as we only played him a couple of times as a sub, I think that a new loan elsewhere will be more likely. McKenna and Robson would also be a great keep but as McKinnon dragged his feet on using him, then I see Robson also leaving. Dixon is one that I cannot make my mind up on - to me it's another "former Scotland international now with Falkirk" story that somehow gets the club mouthpieces all excited, while neglecting to see that he's not the player we were hoping for.

I'd also want to see DKD onboard too, but that will cost us and I'm certain his red card tally would go into double figures when in League 1.

If only we could keep Rudden and Burgoyne for another season. Either one could be the captain as far as I'm concerned!

[The Falkirk FC Thread]

Forty years ago, I went to my first game: a 3-2 win over Brechin City in the old Second Division in front of nearly 2000. Next season, I'm curious to see how close to 2000 will turn up.

Closing the Academy was unforgivable, completely agree. Of course, we wouldn't be selling multiples of players each year, but putting money into that would have been a smarter idea than budgeting on a cup run (that was a genius idea, wasn't it). We need to re-open the Academy, because we'll get more out of it than signing journeymen.

Certainly what concerns me is that we're punting ourselves as the team to beat in League 1. In the interview with McKinnon, hearing each match is for our opponents a Cup Final was laughable. We've been in the Championship for 9 years and while we have a decent size support, we've hardly been putting in performances that would strike fear into the hearts of our opponents.

I would love to get enthusiastic about next season but unless there's change at the top, we'll stay put for the time being while any money that comes in from sell-on clauses is frittered away. And if that change comes (which will focus on anyone other than those who genuinely care about the club), I honestly wonder about their intentions.