WOODS IS FOCUSING ON THISTLE, NOT FALLOUT

MARTIN WOODS and Jim McIntyre may be just about back on speaking terms, but it can be taken as read that the exchange of Christmas cards had to wait for another year. While the exact details of the spectacular fallout between the pair in the summer remains private, the fact it happened is a matter of public record. Having won the League Cup in his first full season at the club and played 35 times last year, Woods was not seen in public at the outset of this campaign before having his contract paid up. Partick Thistle gave the 31-year-old free agent a home in October and are now beginning to reap the benefits. Woods was a key figure as the Jags saw off Hamilton by a single goal on Saturday, a result which lifted them off the bottom of the table at Christmas ahead of, you’ve guessed it, Ross County. Anyone hoping the midfielder is about to thumb his nose in the direction of Dingwall will be disappointed. Despite describing the first three months of the season as ‘horrible’, Woods bears no grudges. ‘I have a lot of good pals at County,’ he said. ‘Putting them bottom of the league doesn’t mean anything more to me. ‘It happens in football sometimes but it was the first time it had happened to me. It’s great that I have the chance at Partick but it doesn’t make it any sweeter that they’re bottom of the league now.’ Woods darkened the door of eight English clubs before writing his name into County folklore by being part of their first side to win a major honour — defeating Hibs to win the League Cup in 2015-16. Still with a year to run on his contract, leaving under a cloud was the last thing on his mind. ‘It was just a fallout with the old manager,’ he added. ‘I actually sorted it out with him when I came to Partick. ‘It could maybe have been done before then but a couple of things had been said and done and we felt as if neither of us could go back. ‘It was more the things that had been said and done.’ Ahead of tonight’s trip to Aberdeen, Woods feels like he’s ready to prove a point to his new club rather than the one he left under a cloud. ‘It’s been hard,’ he said. ‘We need to get results but there’s no easing me in. ‘I’d not played in seven months but that’s now four games in two weeks. ‘I’ve been chucked in at the deep but I don’t mind that. I’ll give my all in every game.’