Sibbald saga: The end in sight

Craig Sibbald will sign a deal with Falkirk this week, ending months of speculation. Picture Michael Gillen.

The Bairns have a contract offer on the table for the 22-year-old midfielder which protected their rights to compensation for his development through the club’s youth academy.

The Falkirk Herald understands this deal will be signed by the player this week.

Sibbald’s signature will end months of speculation over his future, which stepped up a notch with two trials at Luton Town.

The Hatters took Sibbald to their pre-season tour in Slovenia where he was injured, and then the midfielder visited the club a second time last week and played against last year’s Premier League champions Leicester City. Luton gave Sibbald a run for the last 20 minutes of the friendly defeat, but were unwilling to pay the amount stipulated by FIFA.

Sibbald has always been in two minds about leaving his boyhood club - desperate to prove himself on a bigger stage than the SPFL Championship, but keen to lift Falkirk to the top tier and proud to play for his hometown team.

That period in navy blue will now continue, and any move will have to be earned - and a place in Peter Houston’s winning team will also have to be earned after a winning start to the Betfred Cup ahead of this season’s big league kick-off in Paisley on Saturday.

Sibbald’s will-he won’t-he debate is one of two for Falkirk fans this summer, the other being Rory Loy’s long-rumoured move back to the club. And both have had a successful conclusion for the Bairns fans and the fan favourites could link up as soon as Saturday.