Falkirk manager John McGlynn admits matching last season's top-six finish will be a tall order as the Bairns prepare for their second Premiership campaign in 15 years. The club achieved successive promotions and punched above their weight, finishing in the top half for most of the season before settling sixth.

McGlynn faces a significant rebuild after losing his two leading scorers. Barney Stewart joined West Bromwich Albion while Calvin Miller moved to Heart of Midlothian, leaving big football boots to fill in attack. The manager acknowledged the difficulty of like-for-like replacements but insists the club's upward trajectory helps attract new talent.

McGlynn expects opponents to afford Falkirk more respect this time around, removing the element of surprise that aided their debut campaign. He has been active in the transfer market but concedes there is still work to do before the season kicks off. The target remains competing in the top half, though the manager is realistic about the historical difficulty of second seasons.

Retaining Premiership status while integrating new attackers will define Falkirk's campaign. The loss of Stewart and Miller's combined output cannot be overstated — replacing that production with unproven signings is the single biggest variable determining whether the Bairns consolidate or slide toward a relegation battle.