Mark Russell speaks on new manager McKinnon

Mark Russell in action against Ross County

Not many of Falkirk's players will have met Ray McKinnon prior to Monday morning's training session, but Mark Russell is an exception.

The 22-year-old had a brief meeting with McKinnon at the start of summer, telling the then Morton boss that he wanted to leave the club.

Having met McKinnon and assistant Darren Taylor, Russell left and joined Falkirk on trial - without taking part in any training session's in Greenock.

Now at Falkirk permanently, Russell has been joined by McKinnon at The Falkirk Stadium.

Ray McKinnon (left) watched on in Dingwall with Darren Taylor and Margaret Lang

This won't, however, be a problem, as Russell explained. "I made it clear that I wanted to leave Morton. I was there for six years and enjoyed my time but I wanted something different.

"I said that to Ray and he was all right with that - he said I could go elsewhere and they would use my wage for somebody else.

"We left on good terms and obviously he has come here now, so I'm looking forward to it."

The new manager's first game in charge comes this Saturday against Connah's Quay in the Irn-Bru Cup, and Russell sees that as an opportunity to make it one game, one win for the Bairns.

"We go into every game looking to win it. Hopefully we can pick up the win against Connah's Quay and get into the next round."