Generating the necessary cash to build a squad capable of consistently competing with the league's traditionally higher-placed opponents in the long term would be down to a good cup run, finishing in the top six or selling a player.

And, while the Bairns boss says he'd only happily accept either of the first two options, the fourth way is by generating a bigger fan base.

"Unless a sugar daddy comes along, that's where we are and we will need to continue to budget for ninth place," Hughes told Heraldsport.

"That's because of our current gate numbers, hospitality, sponsorship and so on – otherwise we would have to dip into money we simply don't have.

"I'd take a good cup run or finishing in the top six any day but I certainly don't want to sell anyone.

"However, another way of competing with the so-called 'bigger' clubs and making things better is by getting additional people into the ground on a Saturday."

The club exceeded 3000 season ticket sales this week, for the second consecutive campaign, but Hughes wants even more regulars going along to Westfield.

He went on: "If we got into a cup final then I reckon we would have at least 20,000 fans there but I need good numbers every week to take the club forward.

"The supporters have to bring along friends, family – anyone they know – and generate some excitement.

"We're doing our bit – we've already surpassed expectations in recent years and now have first team players here who, between them, have more than 200 caps.

"There's a host of internationalists coming through the ranks as well. That's the standard we are at.

"We can't win every week but I can guarantee we have pride in everything we do and will continue to play a vibrant style of football which, if you're enthusiastic about the game, is fantastic to watch.

"It's a great time to be a Falkirk fan but dye in the wool supporters will know where I'm coming from when I say that we need to recruit more in order to take the club to the next level."

- FALKIRK chairman Campbell Christie was successfully re-elected to the board of the Scottish Premier League at Tuesday's AGM.

He is joined for the first time by Rangers chief executive Martin Bain, while Dundee United chairman Eddie Thompson and Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie continue on the five-man board.

Lex Gold was elected unanimously for the 10th time as the SPL's chairman.