Alexander had been given leave of absence last season due to a stress-related illness, it was reported, leaving his assistant Davie Irons to guide the club to the First Division title.

After weeks of close-season speculation, Irons was installed as manager with Alexander's future left in limbo.

However, in what appeared to be a carefully stage-managed incident, Alexander was surrounded by photographers when he tried and failed to get into Fir Park before the game.

Alexander issued a statement saying that he was there to "fulfil his obligations at the club".

After the game, which Gretna lost 4-0, Innes said: "Well, looking at that, I don't think that's the actions of a sane man, coming to an SPL team at two o'clock in the biggest game of their career and trying to do what?

"I think that's him trying to get a bit of attention for himself.

"David is taking the team now and that is it, he has been taking pre-season, bringing players in and taking training so he is the manager.

"I would advise him (Rowan) on my behalf to stay well away from the club because at this time we don't need these distractions.

"If he has the club's best intentions at heart it will be best to leave us alone and encourage us from a distance.

"I haven't seen him around the club, he's been away on holiday I believe, although he has sent some of the players text messages, which is his prerogative.

"But he has to understand that he is no longer part of this club and respect the players and the manager who is here."

Gretna chief executive Graeme Muir expressed his surprise that Alexander tried to hijack Gretna's big day.

He said: "I was surprised that he tried to turn up.

"I'm not a medical man but I am concerned for him.

"We have correspondence with him that says that he would stay away from the games.

"He is still employed by us but there is a legal process going on so I can't say too much.

"But it is in our interests and Rowan's interests to get it sorted, especially Rowan's."

It was a bad day all round for Gretna.

Playing at Motherwell's home, where they will be housed until Raydale Park is upgraded, the SPL new boys were 2-0 down at half-time thanks to a Michael Higdon double.

Goals from Pedro Moutinho and Russell Latapy after the interval sealed the fate of the Border club who, on this evidence, face a long season ahead.

Gretna manager Irons insists he and his players knew nothing about Alexander's actions before the game and refused to use the incident as an excuse for their opening day defeat.

He said: "Neither me nor the players were aware of it.

"It was something that was outwith our control and I'd rather talk about the game. We have no excuses - we failed but we will be back on Monday.

"Welcome to the SPL as they say.

"The statistics will show that we had more chances than Falkirk but they were more clinical.

"They took their chances when they came along.

"We have to learn very quickly, everybody at the club, but we are disappointed because we feel that we competed but the difference is that they took their chances and we didn't."

Falkirk are top of the SPL tonight but manager John Hughes will not be carried away by his side's start to the campaign.

He said: "We carried a bit of luck today.

"I would be aggrieved if I was Gretna, I think they deserved to score a couple of goals.

"Some of our defending was suicidal at times.

"I remember being top of the table with Hibs one season and we ended up relegated.

"So we have to learn from that experience.

"We have games against the Old Firm coming up and they will be difficult."