John Hughes will be hoping Carl Finnigan is the new Stokes

Finnigan, 20, had also been wanted by Accrington Stanley, Darlington, Hibernian and St Mirren.

"I am delighted to have joined Falkirk and I feel it is the right move for me at this point in my career," he said.

"The team is in a great position in the league and in both cup competitions. Hopefully I can help achieve success here for Falkirk."

His spokesman Sajad Hussain said he signed an 18-month contract after talks with boss John Hughes and seeing the club's facilities.

Hughes told BBC Sport: "We've been impressed with Carl's attitude and desire to win."

Finnigan came through the youth system at St James' Park but failed to make the breakthrough into the first team.

It's a new adventure and life for him in Scotland and he wants to ensure he's kept busy for the next 18 months Sajad Hussain Carl Finnigan's spokesman

Newcastle were not going to renew his contract in the summer and allowed him to leave in January with the insertion of a sell-on clause.

Hussain told BBC Sport: "It was a career decision for Carl. He wanted first-team football and he wasn't going to get that at Newcastle.

"He was impressed with Falkirk's training facilities, academy, further education programmes and how passionate the club were about the future.

"He spoke to John Hughes, went to see their training facilities and was very impressed.

"It's a new adventure and life for him in Scotland and he wants to ensure he's kept busy for the next 18 months."

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson had made public his desire to sign Finnigan but was not bitter at losing out to his SPL rivals.

"As soon as more people became involved it was clear that we wouldn't get him," said MacPherson.

"It's not an issue and we don't feel he has been taken from under our noses, not in the slightest.

"As we have said before, because of the circumstances we work under, financially and otherwise, if any other SPL club want a player we are interested in then they will get him.

"It's hard to take but it doesn't mean that we will stop. We will still be out there trying to sign players."

Finnigan scored 59 goals in 102 appearances for Newcastle's reserve side.

He impressed on trial at St Mirren Park along with Newcastle team-mate Chris Shanks, who is now training with Hamilton Academical.

The Buddies decided they had enough cover at right-back, but they retained their interest in Finnigan.