Steven Pressley confirmed as Eddie May's successor at Falkirk

Published on Thursday 11 February 2010 16:57

FALKIRK today announced a change of management, with Steven Pressley replacing the departing Eddie May until the end of the season.

• Pressley (left) and May look on during last night's home defeat to Kilmarnock (SNS)

A statement on the club's website read: "Following meetings between the board of directors of Falkirk Football Club and senior club officials a decision was reached that the football club and Eddie May would part company by mutual consent with immediate effect."

He will be assisted by former Aberdeen and St Mirren boss Alex Smith, who had been director of football under May.

Club Chairman Martin Ritchie commented: "Eddie May has served this club extremely well for the last 6 years.

"In his role as Academy Director he has played a key role in transforming the club's youth system and developing our football infrastructure.

"He took on a very difficult and challenging task in the summer, leaving a secure position and unfortunately that has not quite worked as we would all have hoped.

"I am sure that Eddie will go on to continue his career elsewhere in football and do extremely well. He has certainly left a very positive impression on Falkirk Football Club, particularly in the area of youth development. Everybody at the club would like to wish Eddie every success in the future"

The news comes in the wake of last night's 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock. That result left the Bairns, who have won only three SPL games since May took charge last summer, three points adrift at the foot of the table.

May said today: "It is with sadness that I will be leaving Falkirk Football Club today. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club. Everyone knows the affection that I have for this football club, having been a player, Academy Director and latterly first team manager.

"I would never have compromised this football club and I felt that it was best for everyone if I moved on. The Celtic match at Falkirk was a particular high for me as a manager, I was proud to manage the team which included 9 academy graduates.

"Finally I would like to thank the players and my staff for their outstanding support during my tenure, whilst I would also like to place on record my thanks to the directors for their backing during my time as Academy Director and for the opportunity to be manager of this club.

"In my time as a player and as manager the fans have on the whole given me tremendous support and I thank them for that. This club will always hold a special place in my heart and I am sure Falkirk Football Club will go on to enjoy continued success in the Scottish Premier League."

On becoming the new Head Coach, Pressley said: "Today has been a day of mixed emotions for me, with the disappointment of Eddie May leaving the club, but also the excitement of being given the opportunity to manage Falkirk Football Club.

"Working with Eddie over the last seven months has been a hugely enjoyable experience and we grew very close during that time. During Eddie's tenure here he made many strong and decisive decisions and I'm sure that the club will benefit from these."

"There are many facets to being a football manager whether it is tactical, motivational or psychological and although Eddie and I agree on some of these, our philosophies differed greatly on others. I have been given the opportunity to lead Falkirk to the end of the season and have a great belief in the players, backroom staff, the board and finally myself in securing Falkirk Football Clubs SPL status."

"There are still fifteen games remaining with a potential of 45 points to be won and make no mistake all fifteen of these games are potentially winnable.

"I feel I have a good relationship with the players and I would not have taken on this job if I did not believe that I can manage them and bring the club a degree of success."

Pressley, 36, became May's assistant when the latter succeeded current Hibernian boss John Hughes in June.

The Falkirk job will be former Scotland defender Pressley's first in management.

He retired from playing less than three weeks before he, May and Alex Smith were unveiled as the club's new management team, with Smith installed as director of football.

May's tenure began with an embarrassing exit from the Europa League qualifiers at the hands of Liechtenstein-based minnows FC Vaduz.

He had been on the coaching staff at Falkirk for five years before making the step up to his first senior management position.

After winning his first game in charge – the first leg of the Europa League second qualifying round back in July – May oversaw a 13-match winless run in league and cup.

That sequence finally came to an end with an SPL victory over Hamilton in November but the club continued to struggle, winning only one of their next 10 games.

They did record an impressive victory at Aberdeen just over a week ago but last night's result appears to have been the final straw.

May will become the third SPL boss to lose his job since the turn of the year, following Jim Jefferies at Kilmarnock and Csaba Laszlo at Hearts.

By the close of play today, only four top-flight clubs – Rangers, Hamilton, St Mirren and St Johnstone – will be led by the managers who were in charge at the end of last season following nine months of upheaval in the division.