DAN’S THE MAN
Clyde boss Lennon tops struggling Jags’ wanted list after Caldwell exits Firhill
DANNY LENNON is at the top of Partick Thistle’s wanted list after the sacking of Gary Caldwell.
Record Sport understands the Clyde boss and former Jags player is favourite for the job with Ayr’s Ian McCall and Dumbarton’s Jim Duffy also under consideration.
Caldwell and assistant Brian Kerr were axed yesterday after only 11 months in charge and without a league win this season with the club second bottom of the Championship.
Thistle chief executive Gerry Britton, academy director Scott Allison and Kenny Miller will take the team for the visit by Dunfermline on Saturday as they look to fill the post on a permanent basis.
Lennon’s success at lifting the Bully Wee into League One last season as well as his connections as a player at Firhill tick the boxes for the Partick board.
Chairman David Beattie admitted Caldwell’s position had become untenable.
He said: “This is not an outcome anyone wanted.
“However, we believe this decision is in the best interests of the club and that we could wait no longer to make a change.
“On behalf of the board I’d like to thank Gary and Brian BY GORDON PARKS for all their efforts for Partick Thistle and wish them every success in their future careers.
“Gerry, Scott and Kenny will take care of team matters for the weekend while the board begins the process of recruiting the club’s next firstteam manager.”
Caldwell took charge in October 2018 after Alan Archibald’s dismissal.
And club legend Chic Charnley insists that decision to change the boss triggered disharmony inside the Firhill dressing room.
He said: “When I look at where it’s all gone wrong I look at the Alan Archibald situation and they should never have sacked him. He was loyal to Thistle and it should never have happened as he would have turned things around, I have no doubt about that.
“Then Gary was appointed and it didn’t work as there was a personality clash with the players and it didn’t look a good fit from day one.
“It happens in football, from what I can gather the boys just couldn’t take to him.
“Once that happens, no matter who you are, you are on a hiding to nothing.
“I was with John Lambie when he told Archie the worst thing he could have done was take Thistle into the top six.
“Sure as heck he’s been proven right.
“If Archie wanted to come back I would also be happy with that. The players liked him and he’s a terrific gaffer who knows how to manage people.
“Gary may not have had the majority of the dressing room onside but you shouldn’t have to like the manager to go out and perform. It should be about personal pride within yourself.”
Charnley was back at Firhill on Sunday to play in Kris Doolan’s testimonial and the former Jags midfielder has his own mind made up about who he’d like to see in the dugout.
Charnley added: “The person I would offer the job to would be Jim Duffy.
“Most of the places Jim’s been he’s been a success. He’s a Maryhill boy and he would be the perfect guy for Thistle at this time.
“It’s a no-brainer for me, Jim is the one they should try to bring in.
“This is such a critical time – it is a massive appointment and the board need to get it right.
“Danny Lennon would be okay as a replacement and Ian McCall has done a brilliant job at Ayr. “The last thing we want is another scenario of the days when we needed John (Lambie) to come in and lead the club back up from the old second division as that was as low as we could go. “Those were shocking days for the club. There are positives for me, Gerry is there are chief executive and David is back as chairman and they both have the best interests of Thistle in their hearts.”