REVIEW HAS FALKIRK FEARING FOR THEIR FUTURE

FALKIRK chairman Gary Deans insists the club need fresh investment to avoid being left behind by a strategic review of Scottish football. US-based investor Phil Rawlins and wife Carrie attended a fans’ Q&A on Tuesday night where fans outlined their anger at the club’s League One plight. Defending plans to plough cash into the infrastructure while the team is struggling, Deans fears a strategic review funded by Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee, Dundee United and Hearts could see clubs forced to meet stadium criteria before being allowed to play in the top flight.

Keen to ensure Falkirk make the cut, he told fans: ‘Do we need to bring in more investment? Yes, it’s clear. There is a change coming in Scottish football. ‘We have seen it already with the external investment from America and other places. ‘We have some clubs commissioning a review on behalf of the SPFL. I have had discussions with some of these clubs and it’s not the SPFL’s decision. It’s the decision of the clubs and the SPFL have been forced to go down that road. ‘Dave Cormack has phoned me from Aberdeen and said: “Here is what we think is going to happen over time”. ‘There will be criteria that clubs almost have to be able to play at or have the facilities to be able to play at the top level. And if you’ve not got them, you’ll not be able to play there. I don’t know for certain that’s how it’s going to go, but that’s my guess and that’s how it feels. ‘There will be an SPFL One and Two or a division of 24 clubs or whatever it is. And we want to be on that side of the bridge. ‘Whether that is right for Scottish football or not is another matter. But we don’t want to be on the wrong side of the bridge, so we have to invest.’ Management consultants Deloitte are conducting a Strategic Review on behalf of the clubs, with recommendations likely to go before the SPFL next year. The clubs are keen to drive up league revenues from £28million a year to a figure in excess of £50m, and Falkirk fear a future of part-time football unless they meet criteria. ‘Phil and Carrie have put money in to the club and we need more of that,’ said Deans. ‘We cannot fail to try to be at that top table.’