EVEN its creator calls it “angsty”, but that was one of the gentler reactions to a new football mascot yesterday.

Others described it as terrifying or a nightmare version of Lisa Simpson, the cartoon character.

Partick Thistle’s mascot, designed by David Shrigley, a Turner Prize-nominated artist, became a transatlantic sensation within hours of its unveiling. With its empty eyes, jagged sun-like skull and crooked teeth, “Kingsley” has replaced the rather more traditional Jaggy McBee who, according to the Scottish Premier League club, has now gone to a “mascot place in the sky”.

The person inside the costume remains the same, although he or she also wishes to remain anonymous.

Mr Shrigley, a lifelong fan of the club, said his creation was “animated and angsty” l i ke Partick’s supporters.

It was unveiled on Twitter as part of a new sponsorship deal and quickly went viral, prompting users to compare it to the Teletubbies sun baby and “the Lisa Simpson of your nightmares”.

One wrote: “Can’t stop laughing at the new Partick Thistle mascot. As well as being hilarious it is also terrifying.”

Others said: “The children of fans aren’t going to be able to sleep at night,” and “Partick Thistle’s new mascot has got to be the worst mascot I’ve ever seen before, and I’ve seen some terrible ones.”

It is the result of a chance meeting at a dinner in San Francisco several years ago between Shrigley and Mike Wilkins an art-lover and founder of Kingsford Capital Management, an investment advice company based in California. Shrigley got Mr Wilkins interested in the club and the American firm was announced as having concluded a six-figure sponsorship deal with Partick yesterday. Shrigley, who studied at the Glasgow School of Art, said: “It’s safe to say we have a few surprises in store for the supporters.”