Falkirk manager John McGlynn has strongly criticised Dundee United after the Scottish Premiership rivals made repeated attempts to sign midfielder Brad Spencer, insisting the offers put forward were nowhere near acceptable.
McGlynn confirmed that Falkirk have turned down three separate bids from Dundee United for the 30-year-old, who still has close to two years remaining on his current deal, with the club holding an option to extend that by a further year. While reports have suggested the proposals were worth six figures, McGlynn made clear that the valuation fell well short of what Falkirk would consider.
"We have continuously told them for some time now that Brad's not for sale," McGlynn said. "I don't think it would matter [if Dundee United came back], they are miles off, embarrassing."
The Falkirk boss did not hold back when discussing the nature of the bids, suggesting whoever drew them up should feel uncomfortable with the figures presented. "I know the guy who wrote them and he must have been embarrassed when he was writing these offers, he must have been embarrassed," he added.
McGlynn also pointed to the awkward dynamic of losing a key player to a direct competitor within the same division, particularly one who remains contracted for a significant period. "You wouldn't want your best player going to one of your direct opponents while they're under contract and Brad's got at least another couple of years on his contract, so they are kidding themselves on basically," he said.
The Falkirk manager was emphatic that the club's stance on Spencer's future remains unchanged, stressing that unless the board's position shifts dramatically, there is no scenario in which the midfielder would be allowed to leave for the fee being offered. "From a football point of view we're saying that Brad will be here, he's under contract, unless the board accept it and they are not going to accept their offer," McGlynn stated.
Spencer has become an important figure for Falkirk, and the club's determination to retain him underlines his value within the squad. With almost two full seasons left on his contract before any extension option is even considered, Falkirk appear to hold significant leverage in any negotiations, a point McGlynn was keen to emphasise throughout his comments.
Dundee United's interest in strengthening their midfield ranks is understood to have driven the multiple approaches, but McGlynn's blunt assessment suggests there is a considerable gap between what the Tannadice club believes Spencer is worth and Falkirk's own valuation of their player.
The situation highlights the competitive tension that can arise when clubs within the same top-flight division attempt to do business with one another, particularly over a player who could feasibly line up against his current employers multiple times per season.
For now, Falkirk's position appears firm, with McGlynn giving no indication that further offers, even improved ones, would change the club's stance in the near future. Spencer, for his part, remains contracted and available to Falkirk as speculation over his future continues to surround the club.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.