Ryan Shanley seals Bairns move as striker makes move from League One club to join Falkirk

Ryan Shanley in action for Edinburgh City against Falkirk last month (Photo: Michael Gillen)

Alongside a host of other first-team players at League One’s basement club, Shanley parted ways with Michael McIndoe’s side due to an ongoing cash-flow crisis that saw several stars go without pay.

And the 22-year-old has now made the switch to the top-of-the-table Bairns, who moved three points clear of Hamilton Accies with a game in hand after Saturday’s 3-1 victory in South Lanarkshire against John Rankin’s team.

The striker will officially join on the first of January, and will be available for selection from then onwards, with his initial deal lasting until the end of the campaign, with an option in place to extend by a year.

Ex-Hibs youth player Shanley has already made 13 third tier appearances this campaign, scoring twice against Falkirk’s nearest challengers Cove Rangers and Hamilton Accies respectively.

“We are delighted to get Ryan signed up for the second half of the season,” Bairns boss John McGlynn said. “We’re quite fortunate that Ryan’s been playing with Edinburgh City, who have been going through a difficult time financially, and we’ve been very fortunate to be able to pick Ryan up as a free agent.

“He’s a recognised striker that I’ve watched from a young lad coming through the youth system at Hibs, he was always well thought of and a threat in the youth teams. He’s a player who has been at Edinburgh City so has been in our own league, and to get someone with as much experience at this level at this time of the season is very much a bonus.

"He knows the league, he knows two or three of our other players from being at Hibs, He’s a good addition to the squad, and it’s up to him to fight his way in. He’s been part time and he’s got an ambition to get back playing full time football, so it’s an opportunity for him to show what he can do, and he will certainly add to us as well. He’s a little bit different to the other strikers that we’ve got, and we look forward to welcoming him in and hopefully he can hit the ground running.”