Partick in youth vow after Weir pulls out

PARTICK THISTLE have promised that the loss of lottery winner Colin Weir’s investment will not impact on the high-performing academy system he funded. But an official Jags statement in response to Weir (pictured) withdrawing his backing made no reference to the planned £6million training ground reliant on the millionaire’s cash. Weir, who scooped £161m in the EuroMillions lottery with ex-wife Christine in 2011, confirmed earlier this week that he had pulled the plug as a result of a proposed takeover that has seen chairman Jacqui Low replaced by David Beattie — a key element of ChineseAmerican billionaire Chien Lee’s planned purchase of a 52-per-cent stake in the club. Weir, who had ploughed £2.5m into Thistle and pledged to cover the cost of the new training HQ, was damning about the direction being taken, declaring: ‘I can’t provide the benefits of significant monies and a facility to an unknown entity or group, who may or may not have the best interests of the club at heart.’ Beattie had previously promised that talks between Lee’s NewCity Capital firm and the club benefactor would be a priority. Weir’s announcement that he wouldn’t be putting another penny into the club followed revelations about cuts covering what Thistle called ‘a significant deficit’ in the overall budget. In a further statement yesterday, the club said: ‘The board of directors at Partick Thistle Football Club was extremely disappointed to hear that Colin Weir was withdrawing his financial support for the club and the academy. ‘The current board and management of the football club are already working to put plans in place to ensure this does not mean an end to the fantastic work being done in our academy and with our women’s team. ‘The board of directors acknowledges the feelings of our support at this pivotal stage of our development and will endeavour to update supporters on plans going forward at the earliest opportunity. A return to the Premiership for next season remains our collective aim.’