Falkirk sack managers David McCracken and Lee Miller with four games left in League One title race

Falkirk have sacked co-managers Lee Miller and David McCracken after slipping from the top of League One as the third tier begins a split to conclude the season.

A sorry defeat in Peterhead on Tuesday night saw the Bairns leapfrogged by Partick Thistle at the top of the table with four games to play.

The Bairns had occupied the top spot for much of the season and commanded a lead of five points over Thistle and four to their nearest rivals a month ago. However a slump including defeat to rivals Cove Rangers and the midweek loss in the north-east where the pre-season favourites failed to register a shot on goal has led to their departure.

Former Livingston head coach Gary Holt will take over on an interim basis. Holt is now sporting director at Falkirk but previously managed the club through season 2013-14 before leaving for Norwich City.

Goalkeeping coach Derek Jackson will also leave the club.

Chairman Gary Deans said: “It’s never easy having to ask people to leave the football club and this is no different. Both Lee and David, as well as Derek Jackson, have been good servants to this club but we all must acknowledge that things have not worked out as envisaged. Recent performances and results have not been good enough and change is required. We thank all three for their contribution to Falkirk FC over a number of years and wish them well for the future.

“We are grateful that Gary Holt has agreed to assume temporary control of first-team duties. This was not the role Gary was originally recruited for, and both he and the board of directors, are keen to undertake a rigorous process to recruit a new first-team coaching set-up which will allow Gary to return to his Sporting Director duties and to continue building on the positive work undertaken so far.”

David McCracken and Lee Miller have been dismissed by Falkirk. Picture: MIchael Gillen.

The outgoing duo took over from Ray McKinnon in November 2019 with Miller combining his duties with a playing role. They had a win percentage of 66 percent in the 42 games they took charge of, and finished last season’s curtailed SPFL League One campaign second – one point behind winners Raith Rovers.

League One will now split for four final fixtures. Falkirk host Cove Rangers, in the top half, on Saturday.

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