Falkirk's McGlynn aiming high ahead of new season despite summer of change

"If you can do it once, you can do it twice." <p>After an impressive return to the Scottish Premiership, Falkirk manager John McGlynn is targeting another top-six finish despite a summer of change.</p><p>The Bairns lost a number of their influential players at the end of last season, including top scorer Barney Stewart.</p><widget id="4"></widget><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/falkirk-scores-fixtures">Falkirk fixtures: Bairns kick off season at home to St Mirren</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11781/13551122/scottish-premiership-2026-27-fixtures-dates-schedule-every-match-across-opening-weekend-live-on-sky-sports">Scottish Premiership: Every match across opening weekend live on Sky Sports</a></strong></li><li><strong>Not got Sky? <a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank">Get Sky Sports</a> or <a href="http://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink">stream the Premiership with no contract</a></strong></li></ul><p>They get their new campaign under way against St Mirren on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, with McGlynn continuing to aim high.</p><p>"If you can do it once, you can do it twice," he told Sky Sports News.</p> <widget id="2"></widget><p>"But we also understand that the second season is always going to be probably more difficult.</p><p>"[There's been a] bigger change-around in players, first time we've made such a big change. We lost 15 players at the end of last season, some big players.</p><p>"Barney going to West Brom, Calvin [Miller] going to Hearts and losing Dylan [Tait] to Dundee United - along with all the loan players who had done really well for us.</p> <widget id="5"></widget><p>"We're always ambitious. We want to do the best we possibly can. Like a lot of teams, first and foremost, you've got to stay in the league.</p><p>"That's what we tried to do last season. We targeted 15 points after the first 11 games. We managed to replicate that through the second lot of games and the third to get to 45 points, which got us in a very, very comfortable position.</p><p>"That's a target we'll be trying to achieve if possible. At this stage, anything's possible."</p><h3>Committed to Falkirk amid Scotland speculation</h3> <widget id="6"></widget><p>The 64-year-old has been touted by many as a potential Scotland head coach following Steve Clarke's resignation after their World Cup exit.</p><p>While flattered, McGlynn insists he is concentrating on the new Premiership season.</p><p>"It's amazing for such high-profile people in the game to be pushing my name for that job," the former Hearts boss added.</p><p>"I am obviously totally committed here and I've had no contact whatsoever, so I'm very focused on the job, but it is very nice for the people that have been putting me forward and supporting in that way.</p><p>"I think they know what I'm like and how well I've done, so it's some kind of recognition. It's nice to hear it, but I'm getting on with the job in hand right now.</p> <widget id="7"></widget><p>Asked if he would be interested if the Scottish FA made contact, he added: "Obviously, the SFA will need to go through the proper procedure and speak to the club and see where it goes if it comes to that.</p><p>"I'm just focused on what I'm doing right now."</p> <widget id="1"></widget>

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