BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
FALKIRK manager Peter Houston admits he does not expect to see a penny of Will Vaulks’ transfer fee – but insists he could not have held back the Rotherham United signing.
The 22-year-old Englishman returned south of the border on Friday after Falkirk accepted a reported £300,000 bid from Alan Stubbs’ Millers.
Houston immediately moved to snap up freed Dundee United midfielder John Rankin in his place but has confessed that Vaulks’ departure leaves a void.
The versatile former Tranmere Rovers player made almost 150 appearances for Falkirk and became a firm fans’ favourite with his committed displays and 14 eye-catching goals – and somersault celebrations.
He told Capital City Press: “Will’s a loss. There are good players in different positions, but Will gave you fitness, energy, enthusiasm, shooting prowess and he was a good all-round player.
“But Will wanted to go and it’s one where if you are going to increase your wages substantially and you want to play at a higher level, then for a 22-year-old I don’t see it as being my job to prevent boys from going to play at a higher level or earning as much money as they possibly can, in what is a short career.
“Although I would never have encouraged it, I would never hold him back.
“He was in the last year of his contract and probably wouldn’t have signed a new one anyway, so when they made a bid it means the club are in a good, solid financial position because they have sold a player.”
Whilst Falkirk have benefited financially as a club from selling Vaulks, who had previously been linked with interest from Rangers and Hibs, Houston will not be able to suddenly return to the transfer market.
He added: “I won’t see any of the money.
“I think we might have been slightly over-budget compared to where our levels are, so that money will probably be put to better use, I would imagine.”
