AS the sun rose over Falkirk's training ground at Stirling University yesterday, there was no more appropriate a setting for heralding a new era. Eddie May shuffled into the compact media room, followed by Steven Pressley and the veteran Alex Smith, all ready to assume the reins from the departed John Hughes and soon-to-follow Brian Rice.
Posing for photographs against the backdrop of a plush, sun-drenched training surface, May and his associates should have basked in the tranquility. It can't last. In fact, it will disperse within three weeks when FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein arrive in
central Scotland for the first leg of the Europa League second qualifying round tie – Falkirk's first ever match in continental competition.
If May, 41, harbours any apprehension about beginning his managerial career with a European tie against little-known opponents, he need only glance over his shoulder for guidance.
Pressley has encountered more foreign opponents than hot dinners in his time with Rangers, Dundee United, Hearts and Celtic, not to mention a brief stint with the Danish club Randers. He has particular affection for the Champions League, a tournament he first graced with Rangers in 1992 and revisited with both Hearts and Celtic.
Smith oversaw European campaigns with St Mirren, Aberdeen and Dundee United in his managerial heyday. His director of football position offers Falkirk insight from one of Scottish football's few genuine father figures. May could be termed a managerial novice having worked largely anonymously as head of Falkirk's football academy for the last five years, but with established names around him he isn't likely to fret about challenges ahead. "Steven's got experience in Europe but Alex has got an abundance of knowledge," he said. "He's going to go out and watch Vaduz on Friday and do a detailed report and then we'll start preparing for the game against them. We'll be very prepared for it. We'll have all the appropriate information and we'll know what we're going to do.
"I think I'm very fortunate with the two people I've got. When I spoke to them, they were absolutely fantastic towards what I'm trying to do at this football club. My name is at the top and I have to take final decisions on a lot of things, but I'll work very closely with these two guys. I really respect them in footballing terms and as people.
"It is jumping in at the deep end with the European game. I'll phone John Hughes and thank him for that," May added with a smile. "Then there's the league games after that. I don't think there's any easy games at the level which I'm projecting myself into, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm a very positive person anyway and I'm just going to enjoy it, and hopefully take the club to a decent level."
Beyond European assignments, May is also guaranteed a fascinating start to the domestic campaign. A season-opening trip to Ibrox precedes Hughes' return to the Falkirk Stadium on 22 August, a date May is already relishing.
"I'll shake John's hand because he's done fantastic work at this club," said the new manager. "It will be a full house that day and I'm sure John will have a smile on his face when he arrives. We'll see who is the better team on the day. I'm really looking forward to it. John needed the fresh challenge, he's got a fantastic football club there and I'm sure John and Brian will be very successful at Hibs.
"In five years at Falkirk I never fell out with John Hughes, never once. Both of us had fantastic respect for the jobs the other did. I think both of us wanted the same thing and we achieved the same thing. I have the utmost respect for him and what he's achieved. He's now at the club he's always wanted to manage."
Might there be a cross word or two when they are in opposing technical areas? "No chance of that. I don't give other managers and referees problems. I know what John is like and I'm looking forward to facing him. I'm sure he is too."
The word "continuity" was prominent in chairman Martin Ritchie's media address yesterday as he outlined the appointments of May, Pressley and Smith. Falkirk wanted someone who could identify with their philosophies of rearing their own talent and May was the ideal candidate.
"The first thing I thought about was who could assist me," he said, adding that the new regime will never be "just about Eddie May". "I thought of Steven Pressley, who I think is a leader of men. Alex Smith has done everything in the game.
"We had a conversation three years ago at Celtic Park while watching a first-team game that always stuck with me. He said he just wanted to help produce good footballers.
"I've had opportunities to go elsewhere and I've never taken it. I just thought this is a fantastic football club. I've been here nearly 11 years, they've been very supportive of me and the previous manager never interfered with my job one little bit.
"He just let me get on with it and we've helped produce guys who have gone on to play for their country. A lot of you won't have seen the under-19s (the team May was previously in charge of at Falkirk] but we'll play the right way, getting the ball down and playing. There will be crosses into the box and shots at goal. The player will know their jobs when they go on the pitch, there's no mistake about that. There won't be any ifs or buts."
Financial restrictions were dismissed as not unusual, and May is no more concerned about Hughes returning and attempting to lure his best players to Hibs. "No, because it's Rod Petrie we're talking about here," he said. "I've yet to know Hibs spending a great deal of money.
"Hibs produce their own football players and John is very lucky to have some of the best players in Scotland in the Hibs Under-19 side. They won the double last year, that's the quality he's got.
"If you saw the budget for our under-19s, it's produced 24 international players. You work with what you've got. I'm sure if you give people money they'll spend it like it's going out of fashion. Our hard work will be out there (training ground)."
The full article contains 1082 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
