Falkirk in talks to sign Declan McManus

Falkirk are in talks to sign Declan McManus – and several other players – chairman Gary Deans has revealed.
David McCracken and Declan McManus. Picture: Michael Gillen.David McCracken and Declan McManus. Picture: Michael Gillen.
David McCracken and Declan McManus. Picture: Michael Gillen.

The Bairns chairman told a club Q&A that last season’s top scorer with 26 goals was being courted for a return after the conclusion of his loan deal from Ross County – and subsequent release from the Dingwall outfit.

Mr Deans confirmed: “We're talking to Declan – and others. Declan was a fantastic player for us last season obviously with the number of goals he scored, and the work effort and rate he applied - it was fanatstic.

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“Lee [Miller] and David [McCracken] I'd say made him a better player than he was, and they gave him an added hunger.

“We'd love to keep him, but other clubs will want him as well. We're in a position where we've got to be able to compete with the other clubs if they're going to want Declan.

“We are speaking to players - there's been a lot of players released by a lot of clubs. We need to be careful assembling a team we believe are capable of winning the league.”

Mr Deans also addressed questions from supporters over the disassembling of last season’s second-placed squad, and the departures announced last month. The Bairns released club captain Gregor Buchanan, regular starter Michael Doyle, forward Louis Longridge as well as fringe-players Ian McShane and Denny Johnstone.

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He added: “We were in talks before shutdown for what the squad would look like in the coming season.

McManus scored key goals last season. Picture: Michael Gillen.McManus scored key goals last season. Picture: Michael Gillen.
McManus scored key goals last season. Picture: Michael Gillen.

“David and Lee assessed who was definitely wanted and who was not part of the plans going forward. The guys who have gone just weren't part of the plans. We decided that [the end of June] was the right time to be able to stop.

“We've put the core of people who we needed on an extension to the end of July. That core is the core David and Lee are comfortable with going forward, supplemented by some new signings we might pick up.

“The contracts were all finishing on June 30 and have been extended to July 31. During July we'll work out the new contracts now we know almost certainly what the season will look like.”