Source: Team_Talk
May named new Bairns manager
The former youth academy chief was this morning unveiled as the replacement to John Hughes, who joined Hibernian earlier this month.
May has been appointed as head coach with Scotland coach Steven Pressley and veteran boss Alex Smith assisting him in a new management structure.
Former Falkirk midfielder May, 41, has been credited with a major role in the development of first-team players such as captain Darren Barr, Thomas Scobbie and Scott Arfield.
Pressley, 35, retired from the playing staff at the end of the season while 69-year-old Smith, former manager of St Mirren and Aberdeen, will provide an experienced input into the management team.
The identities of the coaching team had been an open secret for more than a week, but they now have the pressing issue of preparing for the Europa League second qualifying round tie against Liechtenstein minnows Vaduz.
The first game will be at the Falkirk Stadium on July 16 with the return game on July 23, both games taking place before the SPL kicks off on August 15.
The Bairns will play European football for the first time after reaching the Homecoming Scottish Cup final last season where they lost to Rangers.
May believes his coaching colleagues can help him improve Falkirk, who avoided relegation on the last day of the season.
The former Hibernian and Motherwell player said: "I had the luxury of not applying for the job, they came and asked me.
"I thought about it for a couple of days, weighed up everything and decided that sometimes you have to come out of a comfort zone and that's what I've done.
"I hope to test myself, along with my backroom staff, and go on to help Falkirk progress.
"I didn't apply because I have been here for five years and I believe that was my interview.
"I must have been doing something right for the club to hold me in such high regard and tell me that I was the man to lead them forward.
"I was a little bit surprised to be asked but over the years people within the club have asked me if I would be interested in doing that, in terms of (managing) another club, or if anything changed here.
"So I'm delighted.
"The infrastructure at the club is very strong.
"I know every player from the under-nines upwards.
"So I know what's underneath and what's above and I know what
needs to be put in place to make it better.
"So everything was right for me to take this opportunity."
Falkirk under Hughes were often accused of passing without punishing and May vowed to rectify that next season.
Asked if Falkirk fans could expect to see a different style of football, May replied: "We will cross the ball in and shoot in the final third.
"It has been difficult for John and Brian Rice, they went to a certain level but couldn't get (to keep) an Anthony Stokes or a Darryl Duffy.
"I'm a little bit different in the way I play.
"If anybody watches my under-19s, we still play football in a proper manner but we will ask the questions of the opposition goalkeeper and their defences.
"But the aim is to stay in the SPL. People might say that's negative but if you look at the history of Falkirk they have been up and down.
"We are stabilising while helping to produce young players.
"There will be funds available and the challenge ahead is to go and get the appropriate players."
Falkirk's new management team had been an open secret for over a week but one of the first things they need to do is prepare the players for the Europa League second qualifying tie against Liechtenstein side Vaduz.
The first game will be at The Falkirk Stadium on July 16 with the return game on July 23 and May is looking to make an immediate impact.
He said: "It is going to be a challenge. We are only back pre-season for 15 days before the first game but we will have to be ready to try and progress in to the next round.
"Alex Smith will go out on Friday to see them and he will give us a detailed report and then we will set out how to win the game."
