Falkirk may have great PR and tremendous community spirit, but there’s no hiding the fact the season was a stinker and one to quickly forget. An 8th place finish is nowhere near good enough for the Bairns.
Falkirk began as expected participants in the play-off, if not genuine title contenders. However, they began the season winless in seven games. Matters were expected to quickly return to normal, but Falkirk only recorded two wins in the first half of the season.
Manager Peter Houston had already paid the price of failure by the end of September. Paul Hartley was drafted in to perform a rescue job. It didn’t start well as Falkirk failed to win any of his first eight games in charge with four of these being goalless draws.
With the winter transfer window open, Hartley began to transform Falkirk with some astute loan signings. A thumping 6-1 win over Dundee United in early January set them up for the second half of the season. Despite much improved form, the promotion play-offs were always out of reach and the Bairns were content with avoiding an uncomfortable relegation scare.
There’s little doubt that Peter Houston placed too much confidence in his youths. Falkirk have a reputation for producing talent, but in this case they weren’t quite ready.
Craig Sibbald returned to Falkirk and when fit again he showed his worth in the second part of the season. Louis Longridge also proved a worthwhile addition with on-loan striker, Alex Jakubiak.
With contracts not being renewed and loan players returning to their clubs, Paul Hartley is facing another rebuilding job at Falkirk. The question is: can he turn them into title contenders once again?
