Neil sold on Yogi's glory story

Aug 3 2008 By Gordon Waddell

NEIL McCANN admits he knocked back big bucks to join Falkirk after John Hughes persuaded him the Bairns are now ready to take the SPL by storm The former Hearts, Rangers and Southampton star had several lucrative offers when his time at Tynecastle came to an end.

But along with Jackie McNamara, Lee Bullen and Burton O'Brien, his first conversation with a man who could sell coke to a Colombian cartel had him hooked.

And the 33-year-old (below) is so convinced by what he's seen with the Bairns that he's talking about adding to his 10-medal career haul, not just playing out the days until all he does is polish them.

Speaking to MailSport at the Bairns' Dutch training camp, McCann said: "I could have gone elsewhere and done better financially but this decision was pure football.

"All the guys who have signed have been at big clubs on good money. They probably all had more lucrative options.

"So it says a lot for the initial conversation that anyone ever has with Yogi and Brian Rice. They sell their enthusiasm to you, they're infectious and if you've got the right mentality, you can't resist.

"It felt exciting and as soon as I spoke to Jackie I got the same sense from him. And it says a lot for guys like Burton and Lee that they're still hungry too.

"Like me, they see something here. It's one of the smaller clubs in the SPL but it's really trying to go somewhere."

McCann is desperate to get back playing after his 30 months back at Hearts saw him break his leg, do his medial ligament twice and strain his calf.

Now the wide man has a huge desire to prove his time isn't past.

And with Falkirk boss Hughes assembling a powerful blend of youth and experience, McCann believes success lies ahead of him.

He said: "I have 10 winners medals so far - five Scottish Cups, three Leagues, two League Cups - and I still want to win something else.

"I saw Falkirk as a chance to help my career rather than have it tail off.

"You never know what can happen and it's still the most important thing for this club to establish ourselves as a permanent SPL side first and foremost.

"But I tell you, there are a lot of hungry boys here and you never know where hunger can take you.

"We played QPR the other day - a side who are favourites to go up from the Championship - and at times we gave them a doing.

"I played with Dexter Blackstock at Southampton and he said to me at half time: 'What just happened?

You abused us out there!'

"Obviously we can't get carried away. When the big ball bounces on August 9, pre-season means nothing.

"But we're quietly confident.

"Motherwell challenged last year and they're a decent model for us.

"There's always the chance for a different team to mount a challenge. I'm not saying it's going to be us but I see how things have changed around here and the club is moving forward."