Bairns set out stall for next head coach

Falkirk have set out ambitious requirements for their next head coach and insist the new man must deliver the club a ‘successful and sustainable’ Premiership side.

The Bairns dispensed with the services of Peter Houston on Sunday after more than three years in the role and are now inviting applications – with a deadline of Monday – as they seek a replacement.

The former Dundee United manager and Scotland assistant took the club to the 2015 Scottish Cup final and into the play-offs in the past two campaigns.

He was made to pay for a winless opening seven matches in this season’s Championship.

The job spec the board have pieced together lays out the criteria for the new boss.

The statement reads: “Falkirk Football Club are seeking to recruit a hands-on head coach who is committed to building and maintaining a competitive and successful football team through winning, attack-minded, skilful and inspiring football; sustained, professional youth development; and generating value through recruitment, development and sale of players.

“Our expectations are that Falkirk FC should progress from the SPFL Championship at the earliest opportunity and become a successful and sustainable Premiership football club.

“The right candidate will be able to match those ambitions and aspirations and, more importantly, deliver on them.”

Falkirk have also specified the successful candidate will be a ‘motivator with a winning mentality’, an ‘effective manager of finances, players and staff’, have a good network of contacts in football and live within ‘travelling distance of Falkirk and Stirling’.

They have also warned the new boss will have to ‘manage and work within strict player and management budgets’.

Former Aberdeen and St Mirren manager Alex Smith has been placed in interim charge, along with players Mark Kerr and Lee Miller, ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Morton.

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Falkirk FC should... become a successful and sustainable Premiership football club. CLUB STATEMENT