Bannigan hopes new boss will let him captain Jags permanently PARTICK THISTLE
STUART BANNIGAN is hoping that new Partick Thistle manager Gary Caldwell makes him the captain of the side on a permanent basis.
The midfielder, who has been with Thistle for his entire career to date, was handed the armband by interim managers Gerry Britton and Scott Allison after the departure of Alan Archibald as boss, and he retained the honour for Saturday’s defeat at Alloa.
He feels he has the leadership qualities required to handle the appointment on a full-time basis, and hopes to make his case to his new gaffer through his displays in the coming weeks.
“It was something I never thought I would get to be honest,” said Bannigan. “I felt like I was one of the leaders of the team anyway with the way I played and how I try to help drive the team forward.
“To get the nod when it was Gerry and Scott that were in charge was a big honour for me.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep it, with the new manager coming in. “But the gaffer stuck by me on Saturday and gave me the armband.
“I’m not sure if I will be the captain going forward. We’ll wait and see but it would be a great honour.”
Bannigan was disappointed Caldwell’s reign with the Jags got off on a losing note but he has been enthused by the fresh approach brought in by his new boss.
And he has asked the Thistle faithful to be patient as the team try to implement his ideas.
“He’s only been in for a week or so, but I’m really enjoying training,” he said.
“He’s got a lot of new ideas that he wants to try to take into games, but it’s obviously going to take a wee bit of time to implement them.
“It’s not going to just happen overnight that we can carry out the way he wants us to play and everything will magically be rosy.”