Falkirk

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Falkirk have confirmed the departure of winger Alfredo Agyeman.

The 26-year-old former Kelty Hearts player scored 15 goals in 109 appearances for the Bairns during their rise through the divisions.

Agyeman spent the second half of last season on loan with St Johnstone before he made his final two Falkirk appearances in the Premier Sports Cup group stage.

A club statement read: "We can confirm that Alfredo Agyeman has moved on from the club. Another Invincible, back-to-back champion, and legend departs. Everyone at Falkirk FC wishes Alfie all the very best for the future."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

After enduring a difficult start to the season in both the League Cup and Premiership, Sunday's 0-0 draw at Motherwell has steadied the ship somewhat and brought a sense of optimism back to the Falkirk Stadium.

The draw was a fair result in the end, with the Bairns looking the more likely victors in the second half.

The biggest positive, and certainly something to build on, was the fact we managed to keep a clean sheet - something we failed to do in nine of our final 10 league matches of last season.

However, the one cause for concern remains our lack of cutting edge up front.

We've failed to score in each of our opening two league games and haven't looked overly creative in the final third.

John McGlynn now has the best part of three weeks to get to work on the training ground, given that we don't have any fixtures until the end of August.

He has also hinted he's looking at bringing in at least another two new arrivals.

I think I speak for most Bairns fans when I say we'd like to see both a striker and a winger to be the two types of players he's targeting.

Falkirk fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's goalless draw away to Motherwell.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Nathan: A great point to gain at the end of the day and I'm glad to be off the mark. It seemed that both sides cancelled each other out with no chances really clear cut. A lot of good individual performances from the whole defensive line to Ben Krauhaus and Ethan Ross in attack, Finley Barbrook looks a fantastic addition to the squad as well.

Hugh: Much better performance from Falkirk, particularly the second half. I thought Barbrook had an outstanding game and looks a real find. Krauhaus was very lively too. I hope Joe Gardner's injury isn't too bad as he was one of the few successes against St. Mirren. I think we're getting towards a quality squad again but need games to fine tune the squad. Still looking for a natural striker but Ben Parkinson is showing some signs.

Andy: Much better performance from Falkirk after the opening game, better fight and energy from the team and a point against Motherwell at Fir Park not to be sniffed at. The new players will take time to gel with the players from last season and up to speed with the style but hopefully a steady season ahead, consolidating our status as a premiership team is the minimum.

Ian: Transition is the phrase being used to describe Falkirk, that is what I see. A great point yesterday, togetherness as a team, just need a cutting edge, against a very good team in Motherwell.

Watch all the action as Motherwell and Falkirk play out a goalless draw at Fir Park to maintain Alfred Johansson's unbeaten start to life at Motherwell. Available to UK users only

Alfred Johansson maintained his unbeaten start to life as Motherwell manager, but his side failed to breakdown Falkirk as the pair played out a lively draw in the Scottish Premiership.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "A very good point in the end.

"Great work rate from the whole team, we knew we'd have to do that coming here, Motherwell pass the ball so well and the bottom line for us was to work hard and make it difficult for them. There's loads of positives to take from the game, given where we were last week, the attitude was great, commitment was great. That's the minimum standard we should set.

"Great to get a clean sheet as well, we've not been keeping enough. I thought we did better in the second half, maybe there was a little bit of tiredness with Motherwell after their game on Thursday night, we thought that may happen and we wanted to take advantage of it and I think we nearly did.

"I thought it was a real spirited, good team performance.

"We're very much in transition, we'll still got one or two more players to come in. There were loads of positives to take from that, when we get a few games into the season we'll look back and say "what a point that was at Fir Park".

"Finn Yeats hurt his ankle. He did his ankle in Portugal quite badly, I don't think it's as bad as it was then. Fin had been doing really well in the game, hopefully he's not out too long because Ethan Laidlaw has picked up a really bad injury. He's going to need an operation so it will be at least 12 weeks recovery.

"We've got good numbers, good quality, but it's impossible for us to replace Calvin Miller and Barney Stewart, so we're doing the best we can. Numbers wise we're ok. We're negotiating with clubs on loan deals and hopefully we're close to getting these players up."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Bolt Arena, Helsinki

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Alfred Johansson really does take things one game at a time.

On Wednesday, he admitted he "didn't even know about the draw" in relation to potentially facing Freiburg in the Conference League play-offs, and on Thursday, he certainly wouldn't entertain any questions about reaching that stage by defeating HJK Helsinki next week.

For now, the Finnish side is not on his mind. His sole focus is Falkirk on Sunday.

It will be the Swede's first home game in the Scottish Premiership, and though he only joined over the summer, he's acutely aware of the hold the Bairns had over the Steelmen last season.

"They were the nemesis last year," Johansson said in Helsinki, shortly before he and his players hopped on a plane back home to prepare for the meeting with John McGlynn's side after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Finland.

"I don't think anyone cannot be so excited by the opportunity to play them on Saturday.

"The staff have a lot of knowledge about them, I know they're a good team from what I've seen already - including from some of the games last year I watched prior to signing the contract here.

"They're a good team with a lot of energy, a lot of stability within the club and the manager's position.

"They're improving all the time, exceeding expectations and it's going to be a difficult game but we're looking forward to it with confidence.

"They've lost a few players, but we have too so it's going to be a tight game - that's what the Premiership is, isn't it?"

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Motherwell pair Regan Charles-Cook and Alex Lowry will be checked after going off injured against HJK Helsinki but Ibrahim Said is available, having missed the Finland trip because of a visa issue. Eythor Bjorgolfsson is pushing for a comeback but Dylan Williams, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (calf), Jordan McGhee (hamstring), Paul McGinn, Callum Hendry and Stephen O'Donnell (all knee) are set to remain sidelined.

Falkirk could hand a debut to new midfielder Finlay Barbrook but Scott Tanser (groin), Keelan Adams, Ethan Laidlaw, Tom Lang and Aidan Nesbitt (all ankle) are injured while captain Brad Spencer is suspended.

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Ipswich midfielder Finley Barbrook has joined Falkirk on a season-long loan from the promoted English Premier League side but boss John McGlynn still wants three more signings.

The 21-year-old became McGlynn's 13th summer signing and joins the Bairns as they prepare for Sunday's trip to Motherwell but the Falkirk boss isn't done with his summer business.

The 6ft2 defensive midfielder spent last season on loan with Colchester United in English League Two where he scored one goal in 16 league appearances.

"Finley's someone we've had on the radar for some time," McGlynn said.

"Obviously I would have liked to have got him in a bit quicker but we're delighted to have him.

"He's had loans at other clubs which is a big plus when you're bringing players in. He's quite an all-rounder in that he can take the ball deep, he can make passes, he's athletic, he gets about the pitch.

"The size of him, that physicality is something that we've been trying to find without losing the quality. Sometimes when you go bigger, big guys can't do some of the things that the tiny wee guys can do, and likewise, but he's a well-balanced boy. We've been needing someone exactly like that.

"We've been patient waiting on him because he was the one that we wanted."

When asked if he was still on the look out for more new recruits, McGlynn added: "It could be as many as three, maybe three more if everything goes to plan and if we're lucky enough to get it done.

"It isn't easy, but we have the scope to do it and we're trying to do it."

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• Motherwell are winless in six league meetings with Falkirk (D2 L4) since a 1-0 victory in October 2009.

• Falkirk have won each of their past three league visits to Motherwell, each by a different scoreline: 1-0 in April 2010, 2-1 in October 2025, and 3-2 in April 2026.

• Motherwell started their Scottish Premiership season with a 2-1 away win against Hibernian – they have not won their first two matches in a season since 2007-08 under Mark McGhee.

• Since a 1-0 home win over Motherwell in May, Falkirk have lost all four of their matches in the Premiership. Their last longer losing run came between May and August 2008 (five in a row).

• Motherwell's Lukas Fadinger has scored three goals in his past five Scottish Premiership appearances, two more than he managed in his first 30 appearances in the competition (1).

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

There are plenty of uncertainties in the new campaign, but one thing certain is this will be Falkirk's final season playing on an artificial surface at the Falkirk Stadium.

Top-flight clubs agreed last year synthetic pitches would be phased out, with grass becoming mandatory from summer 2027.

That decision means clubs with existing artificial pitches can continue using them until then, but the direction of travel is clear.

Kilmarnock have already moved ahead of schedule, ripping up their plastic pitch and replacing it with a new hybrid surface which, from the early images, looks extremely impressive.

Falkirk, meanwhile, will continue operating on plastic for one more season before making the switch.

It is encouraging to hear CEO Jamie Swinney confirm that, regardless of what division the club finds itself in next term, a return to grass is planned.

It is a progressive move from Falkirk and one that makes sense whatever happens this season. Even if the worst-case scenario was to unfold and the club were relegated, it would still be logical to lay the foundations for a grass pitch given it will soon become compulsory.

There is also the potential benefit of helping attract a better calibre of player, with artificial surfaces often viewed as a drawback by some.

John McGlynn has been vocal about wanting to see the back of the plastic pitch, while our long-running injury issues - many of which have involved ankle problems - have inevitably led to questions over whether the surface has played a part.

There is no definitive evidence to suggest that is the case, but moving towards a grass pitch feels like the right decision for the club's future.

It will come at a significant financial cost, but it is another sign we are taking steps in the right direction.

Watch the best of the action as St Mirren win 2-0 at Falkirk in their Scottish Premiership season opener. (Available to UK users only)

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Falkirk have a huge challenge to replicate their top six finish of last season as they rebuild after losing a host of key players, according to Ian McCall.

The Bairns were beaten 2-0 at home to St Mirren in their Premiership opener on Saturday.

Manager John McGlynn has had to contend with the loss this summer of his top five goalscorers from last season – Barney Stewart, Calvin Miller, Dylan Tait, Ben Broggio and Brian Graham.

"It's really hard when you're at the level Falkirk are, a big club but not one of the big, big ones," McCall, who had spells at Falkirk as a player and manager, told BBC Sportsound.

"You're signing a boy [Barmey Stewart] from a university team and then getting a million pounds for him. That's not really normal, but fans will still expect you to go and find another one. You tell me five that have been found in the last 20 years like that - it's not like that.

"I still think they'll be absolutely fine. In terms of John McGlynn and the Scotland [manager] rumours , I didn't think it was ridiculous and it's maybe still out there.

"I don't foresee them being in relegation bother, but it will be really hard to replicate what they did [last season]. They finished in the top six comfortably and at one point were in the running for fourth or fifth.

"It's just hard at that level, unless you have serious funds, to replace the type of players that have left."

We asked for your views after Falkirk started the new Premiership season with a 2-0 home defeat by St Mirren.

Here are some of your comments:

Kev: Slow in defence, slow in midfield, almost non-existent in attack. Could have used another couple of weeks to prepare. A lot of new players in, it will take time for them to gel. But they will have to get better quickly. Also desperately need a striker.

Pabs: That was a sore one. In John McGlynn we trust. Ben Parkinson needs to start, he looked good. Let's give Ethan Ross a game or two, looked up for it and drew a couple of fouls. Its going to be a tough start, but McGylnn and Paul Smith will pull us through.

Gordon: Alarm bells are ringing. Missing big players from last season and the young players who have come in have yet to show they are good enough. Not much created up front and over-committing in midfield leaving the defence badly exposed. Based on the first league game both us and St Mirren will be in the bottom three.

Dave: Early doors. Taking to much time taking shots. Still to gel fully. Some good performances. No need to hit panic button yet.

Hugh: Have been very impressed with Aodhan Doherty and Joe Gardner. Surprised Doherty didn't start and also that Gardner got subbed. We badly need a goalscorer. We keep on trying to walk the ball into the net. So frustrating.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "Certainly not the start that we were looking for. We had high hopes for the game going into it. In the opening 10 minutes or so, we were good, we were in control, we passed the ball really well.

"We got wide, we got crosses in. We make an error in defence, playing a ball out, trying to thread the ball through the eye of a needle.

"It's intercepted, they break on us and we've got so many bodies in the box against not an awful lot of bodies, yet they manage to get the ball in, get a cross in.

"I thought we dominated the second half, we get a goal. It's denied on a handball which I've not seen. We're huffing and puffing and then from our corner kick, we lose a goal. It's crazy. We've been punished for not doing an awful lot wrong.

"Have we done enough to really say that we deserve to win that game? Probably not. We've not created enough, we need a little bit more quality. But early days, there's always going to be a quick turnaround. But we have to pick up points quickly.

"[Goals are] the hardest thing to get. Big Barney [Stewart] was on fire last season, and Calvin Miller was a big player for us with the number of assists that he got.

"[Those players] are hard to find. We've been trying, and maybe in time it'll come, but obviously today, we have to concede that we didn't have that today.

"We're not going to panic. Certainly, we're disappointed. We're naive on the pitch. We need to learn and grow up a little bit quicker, but we're not pressing any panic buttons, but we know we need to do better than that.

"I would imagine we'll get another couple [of players in], I think we'll get another couple for sure."

Killian Phillips' double ensured St Mirren got their Scottish Premiership campaign off to a winning start with victory at Falkirk.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Falkirk boss John McGlynn says he hopes to complete two more loan deals next week. Falkirk Herald, external

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Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain is pushing to return from an ankle injury while the Bairns are without Keelan Adams and Aidan Nesbitt following ankle surgery and the suspended Brad Spencer. Tom Lang is close to a return after 18 months out.

Liam Donnelly could return for St Mirren and on-loan Rangers midfielder Paul Nsio could make his debut while Declan John (hamstring) remains out. Ryan Mullen is making good progress following a thigh injury.

Keanu Baccus (Achilles) and Jonah Ayunga (knee) are long-term absentees.

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Falkirk defender Liam Henderson hopes the club's tight-knit dressing room will help manager John McGlynn deal with a summer of transition.

The Bairns have lost key players Calvin Miller, Dylan Tait and Barney Stewart this summer as well as several loanees.

Falkirk exited the League Cup at the group stage and McGlynn admitted he expects a more difficult campaign than last season's top-half Premiership finish.

Still, Henderson thinks the experienced players that remain will have a big say, starting with Saturday's league opener against St Mirren.

"These players we've lost are massive players inside the dressing room and on the pitch, so to replace them is very difficult in a short space of time," the 29-year-old said.

"Also, the budget that we've got doesn't compare to other teams in the league.

"We've been together throughout these three seasons so you create bonds, you create partnerships, friendships that you take on to the pitch, so you can't buy that straight away.

"That's formed by relationships and our culture in the dressing room, senior players, coaching staff, to build that kind of relationship in there, so that takes time.

"But on the pitch, the boys have got quality. Anyone can come and do well. The dressing room that we have, we're very open, we're very welcoming.

"For instance, Barney coming in from a uni team and moving on 18 months and making himself a fortune is because of the culture that we've created in this dressing room.

"Obviously he's scored goals, don't get me wrong, but to feel free to go and do that and enjoy football is a massive part of how we operate in the dressing room."

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• Last season, St Mirren's Scottish Premiership games had just 85 goals (30 for, 55 against), the fewest of any side. By contrast, Falkirk were one of only two sides in 2025-26 to both score (50) and concede (62) 50+ goals in the division, along with Kilmarnock (50 for, 68 against).

• St Mirren lost their opening league game of last season 1-0 at Celtic Park but have not lost on the opening day in back-to-back Premiership campaigns since 2013-14/2014-15.

• Falkirk lost each of their final three league games of last season, their longest losing run in 2025-26. The Bairns last lost four in a row in the top-flight in December 2008.

• St Mirren have won five of their last seven top-flight away games at Falkirk Stadium (losing just once) – including both last season.

• Falkirk have only won two of their last 12 top-flight meetings with St Mirren (losing half of them), a 2-1 victory in April 2010 and 2-0 triumph in January last season.