Falkirk had a disastrous season finishing bottom of the table and relegated to the 3rd tier of Scottish football. Yet, the season began with great optimism as Paul Hartley assembled a team of what he considered ‘under-rated’ players with potential. Pre-season didn’t inspire and a winless start to the season saw Hartley sacked before August was out. Ray McKinnon was controversially recruited from Morton but results failed to improve until January when a new team was assembled. Results improved but near the end of the season form deserted them and despite a win against the champions, Ross County, on the final day, Falkirk were relegated on goal difference.
Falkirk opened the season with one win in 12 fixtures. Although the blame was entirely heaped on Hartley, McKinnon’s assertion that most of the team weren’t good enough and would be gone by January was hardly inspiration to the Falkirk squad. Form did improve towards the end of 2018, but then big changes were made as a whole new team was acquired. Form improved into 2019 with one defeat in 12 matches, but Falkirk’s tactics were based on defence and counter-attack. The tactics back-fired in the closing stretch as the goals dried up.
Falkirk are relegated but the real headache is still to emerge in the accounts covering the departure and compensation of Hartley and most of his squad, and the acquisition of McKinnon and his new squad. The Bairns had big plans to concentrate their resources and push for promotion, but instead it has all gone wrong. They will be overwhelming favourites to bounce back, but finances may cripple them before that.
