FALKIRK have welcomed being drawn to face Liechtenstein outfit FC Vaduz in their European debut next month as an "opportunity" to progress in the inaugural Europa League.
The draw at Uefa's headquarters in Nyon yesterday saw the Bairns avoid a nightmare trip to eastern Europe and instead land a journey to the tax haven principality sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria.
Vaduz have just been relegated after a s
eason in the Swiss Super League, but in German legend Pierre Littbarski they have a head coach with massive experience of European competition and a magnet for a host of German talent.
However, whilst confessing the club still has to do their homework on their second qualifying round opponents, chairman Martin Ritchie believes the Bairns have a really good chance of a successful first foray onto the continent.
Ritchie, who will confirm Eddie May, Steven Pressley and Alex Smith as the club's new management team this morning, said: "It's a good draw and an attractive one. It's a lovely place to go to, not too far-flung, and hopefully a lot of the fans will be able to travel with us out there for the second leg as well as support us in the first leg.
"Looking at some of the other clubs that were in the draw, I think it's an opportunity for us. The players won't have a lot of time to prepare but the whole club is looking forward to our first-ever European tie and hopefully the team will do us proud."
Falkirk are at home for the first-leg on Thursday, 16 July, with the second leg in Vaduz a week later.
Darren Barr admits he and his team-mates will be making a leap into the unknown when Falkirk take their European bow. But the Scotland internationalist insists the Bairns will be determined to ensure it is not a debut to forget.
Falkirk have a short period of preparation for the squad, who only return on Thursday for pre-season training just three weeks ahead of the first tie.
But skipper Barr is hoping the team who narrowly avoided relegation and came close to a Scottish Cup final shock against Rangers last season can do Scotland proud against Littbarski's men. He said: "I don't know much about Vaduz, apart from the fact they played Livingston a few years ago and their coach played for Germany at the highest level.
"It will be a new experience for most of the boys and for the club but I'm sure the club will do its homework on the other team as much as they can.
"We're just about back for pre-season training and then we'll start our preparations for the first leg, which everybody is looking forward to.
"Everybody says it's nice to be in Europe but the step we want to take is to play well and win as many games as we can. Hopefully we can get through and see where it takes us."
Barr was made skipper by John Hughes but the 24-year-old will have to wait and see whether he retains the position under the new management team following Hughes' move to Hibs.
However, whilst coy on discussing the incoming set-up, the centre-half, who is entering the final year of his current contract at Falkirk, is keen to help make the new era a success.
He added: "As far as the players are concerned, no matter who the manager is, we all want to be a part of it and do well and improve on last season."
The full article contains 606 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
