Holt back at Falkirk as sporting director

Former Livingston manager Gary Holt has returned to Falkirk as the Scottish League 1 leaders' sporting director.

The 47-year-old spent just over a season as Falkirk boss before returning to Norwich as the club's first-team coach in the summer of 2014.

Holt, inset, who stepped down as Livi manager in November after more than two years in the role, said: "Falkirk has always held a special place in my heart for giving me my big break in management. I feel there is unfinished business here and I'm going to devote all my energies in getting this club back to the Scottish Premiership. I've learned much inmytimeawayandi'mready to put that into action.

"The board have set out to me a compelling vision for the return of a youth and talent development pipeline andtheneedtodevelopafiveyear football strategy which ensures that all departments, fromrecruitmenttosportscience and analysis, are working in harmony.

"We want to squeeze every last ounce out of the resources we have here and I am confident we can be successful."

Holt vowed to support comanagers Lee Miller and David Mccracken, adding: "Let me be clear - I'm not here to be the next Falkirk manager. I'm here to make sure we have the right environment and infrastructure to ensure that Lee and David can succeed and get this club moving forward again."

Miller and Mccracken have been in joint charge since November 19 and the club stated they had involved both managersintheselection process. Chairman Gary Deans added: "In Gary we have a candidate who ticks all the boxes in terms of youth development experience, football knowledge, recruitment contacts and all theotherattributeswhichare requiredatamodernandprogressive football club. Added to that we've seen Gary demonstrate a real desire to drive change and push for excellence in everything he does."