Archibald coy on future but predicts ‘changes’

Alan Archibald has made no decision on his immediate future at Partick Thistle following the club’s relegation from the Ladbrokes Premiership.

The Jags went down 3-1 on aggregate to Livingston in the play-off final to end a five-year stay in the top flight of Scottish football.

Questions have been asked of Archibald’s position at the club after overseeing a drop from sixth place last season to 11th this year, culminating in relegation.

He accepts there will be changes at the club but has not given much thought to his own future.

“I’ve not processed that, it’s still very raw,” the dejected Thistle boss said.

“The most important thing moving forward is the football club and making sure there will be changes but making sure they are right.

“There has been a lot of good work gone on over the last five years and it’s important not to ruin that.

“There will be changes and cuts all over, it’s just important the club is in a good place to come back up.

“I will look at myself and the playing staff and the decisions we made.

“There have been excuses along the way but we had a number of chances to get out of it and just didn’t do enough.”

He added: “There will be a massive turnover of players and changes at the football club.

“The good thing is we have built things properly and didn’t get above ourselves in terms of finances, so with the parachute money hopefully it will give us the best chance of coming back up.”

After the game, the club released a statement to say they would soon be meeting to decide on how to move forward ahead of their return to the Championship next season.

Chairman David Beattie said: “It is crucial that the work starts now to ensure that we go into the 2018-19 season with the sole aim of making an immediate return to where we belong – the top flight of Scottish football.”

Waiting: Alan Archibald.