May (centre) will be assisted by Pressley and Smith
Scottish Premier League outfit Falkirk have confirmed Eddie May as the head of their new management team.
Former Bairns defender Steven Pressley is to assist May, with Alex Smith installed as the director of football at the club.
Former youth coach May, 41, succeeds John Hughes, who left at the end of the season to take over at Hibernian.
May, who had two spells as a player with Falkirk, has been on the coaching staff for five years.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for Falkirk Football Club to move up to the next level," said May.
I must have been doing something right for the club to hold me in such high regard and tell me that I was the man to lead them forward.
Eddie May
"It's a big challenge ahead but I'm confident and would like to thank the board for the opportunity."
Former Rangers, Hearts and Celtic defender Pressley, 35, retired at the end of last season, and had expressed an interest in the managerial vacancy.
Veteran Smith, who had spells with Stenhousemuir, Stirling Albion, Clyde, St Mirren, Aberdeen and Dundee United, is the chairman of the Scottish Managers and Coaches Association but has been out of the club game since leaving Ross County in 2005.
The 69-year-old, however, been part of the Scotland scouting and coaching set-up.
"I was offered the job a week ago," explained May. "It took me a couple of days to accept, then I looked at who could assist me.
"Steven Pressley is a fantastic leader of men, a fantastic organiser, while Alex Smith has done everything in the game.
"I had a conversation with him three years ago, which stuck in my mind, when he told me he was here to help young coaches.
"I must have been doing something right for the club to hold me in such high regard and tell me that I was the man to lead them forward.
"I was a little bit surprised to be asked but over the years people within the club have asked me if I would be interested in doing that, in terms of managing another club, or if anything changed here.
May has been credited with a major role in the development of first-team players such as captain Darren Barr, Thomas Scobbie and Scott Arfield.
May added: "I'm delighted.
"The infrastructure at the club is very strong, and I know every player from the under-nines upwards.
"So I know what's underneath and what's above and I know what needs to be put in place to make it better.
"So everything was right for me to take this opportunity."
And the new head coach can look forward to leading the Scottish Cup runners-up on their first ever European campaign.
The Bairns will meet Vaduz from Liechtenstein in the Europa League second qualifying round, with the first leg at the Falkirk Stadium on 16 July and the return game on 23 July.
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