Hartley aims for top flight with Falkirk

Paul Hartley has declared that anything less than a return to the Premiership will represent a failure after ending his sixmonth exile from football by becoming Falkirk head coach.

The 40-year-old was last night confirmed as Peter Houston’s successor after signing a three-year deal with the underperforming Championship side, landing the role ahead of recently dismissed Ross County boss Jim Mcintyre.

Hartley masterminded Alloa’s rise from the old Third Division to the Championship in successive campaigns before guiding Dundee back to the top flight in 2014. However, he was dismissed by the Dens Park side in April following seven successive defeats.

Nevertheless, the former Scotland midfielder’s lower league pedigree is laudable and, while making up the nine-point deficit to the play-off places is the immediate target, he intends to add to his catalogue of promotions during his tenure at Falkirk.

“Falkirk is a club that is geared up to be in the Premiership,” Hartley said. “We have everything in place – a fantastic stadium and fanbase. It’s just about trying to get over that final hurdle and win promotion. Hopefully I am the person to do that. That is the goal,

to get to the Premiership, I’m not coming here for anything less. We have had a slow start to the season but the aim is to be in the top four this year. I was clear on my ambitions to take the club forward when I spoke to the board, and that matched what they expected.

“It’s a club that has everything going for it and we believe we have a squad capable of challenging at the top of the league. My ambition is to get Falkirk to the Premiership. That’s where we need to be and we want to instil a winning mentality.

“The last few years they’ve run teams close, lost out in the play-offs so they just need to make that last step.”

Hartley will watch Saturday’s Irn-bru Cup derby against Dunfermline from the stand, leaving technical director Alex Smith in charge with the assistance of Mark Kerr and Lee Miller, before taking the reins formally on Monday.