Sibbald signs for Falkirk

The midfielder put pen to paper ten days after indicating he was prepared for the Bairns’’ promotion push.

Sibbald signed an initial one-year extension with his hometown team, ending the summer of speculation.

He will sit out tomorrow’s match with Dumbarton after an accumulation of yellow cards in the league last season, but will be available for selection ahead of the match with rivals Dunfermline on August 19.

In a statement on the club website the homegrown hero said: “ I have taken time throughout the summer to consider my options, but with the season underway and having been around the club training I have decided that it’s not quite time to leave yet.

“I am here with one aim and that is to help get this club promoted – while every player wants to achieve their own personal goals it feels right to remain at the club and help to achieve a target we all desperately want.

“I’ve been here for quite a few years now, but I want to finish what we started. There is a good dressing room here, great fans and I just want everyone to come together now and help each other to get points on the board starting tomorrow.”

Sibbald has stayed in and around the club, save for two training spells with Luton Town and a friendly appearance against Leicester City, training with his team-mates.He watched Tuesday night’s defeat in the Betfred Cup, at the end of which vocal supporters called for the deal to be concluded.

After that Peter Houston admitted it “would be lovely to have him” and today, after the signing concluded, the Falkirk boss said: “I am thrilled to finally have Craig back amongst the group. For his own sake, he had to go and take time to explore his options this summer, but I am delighted that the end decision is to sign at Falkirk.

“Every manager wants to keep their best players and have real quality in their squad – something which Craig has in abundance.

“Despite not being a registered player he has continued to work hard and now he can just focus all his efforts on helping to achieve our collective targets here at Falkirk.”

Sibbald’s contract at Falkirk expired last season, but the club protected their interests to a training development fee by offering him an extension late last year. He has played 246 times for the club scoring 34 goals, including winners in the Scottish Cup quarter-final and semi-finals in 2015.

Chief Executive, Craig Campbell, added: “The process with Craig has been an ongoing one. We have remained in talks with him for some time and we are delighted to finally reach an agreement.

“It’s taken time, but this is a terrific boost for the whole club moving forward.

“Everyone at the club is really pleased to see Craig decide to continue his development with us as we all pull in one direction to try and gain promotion back to the Premiership.”