John McGlynn flattered to be linked with St Johnstone but happy as Falkirk boss

John McGlynn is flattered to be linked with the St Johnstone managerial vacancy but insisted he is happy where he is and intent on returning to the Scottish Premiership with Falkirk.

The 62-year-old was installed as one of the early favourites to replace Craig Levein, who was sacked by the top-flight strugglers earlier this week.

McGlynn’s stock is high on the back of a 43-game unbeaten league run that has taken Falkirk to League One title success last season and now to the top of the Championship with a perfect 15 points from the opening five matches.

Asked about the St Johnstone link on Friday afternoon, McGlynn said: “It’s a compliment for all the good work that’s been getting done. It’s not only here at Falkirk, I think myself and (assistant) Paul Smith did a really good job at Raith Rovers to get them out of League One and then finish third in our first season in the Championship, in a league that contained Hearts and Dundee, and then fifth in our last season.

“And we’ve come in here and within two and a bit seasons, we are where we are now, which everyone can see. It’s nice to be linked with it but I’m very comfortable and very happy where I am.”

McGlynn said he would love another crack at the Premiership with his current club after his only previous top-flight stint – in charge of Hearts in 2012/13 – lasted just eight months before he was sacked.

“The best way would be to do it with Falkirk,” he said. “If we can, I think that would be more rewarding. That would be an awesome achievement.

“Falkirk historically would be one of the top 12 teams in Scotland, I would suggest, in terms of attendances, history, all that type of thing, but they found themselves in League One for five years. It’s looking like we’re on our way up now, but the aim is to try and get to the Premiership with Falkirk if we can.”

McGlynn has another opportunity to boost his profile when he takes his team to face rampant Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

“Looking at the betting this morning, it would suggest there’s no point in us turning up – we’re 30/1 in a two-horse race,” smiled McGlynn. “I’ve not come across that very often.

“We’ll need to be defensively good, we’ll need an enormous amount of luck, every player will need to be at their best, and then we might have a chance. Our guys have been playing very well, they’ve got confidence and momentum, we’ve beaten two Premiership teams (Dundee United and Hearts) and from that aspect I’m sure Celtic won’t treat us too lightly.”

Falkirk could give a debut to Luke Graham, who has joined on loan from Dundee for the rest of the season, while Coll Donaldson is a doubt with a groin injury and Ryan Shanley is suspended.