Emotional McCall proud of Thistle return

week before it. I feel emotional. I, probably wrongly, feel I’ve let Lachlan down, although he says he did not feel like that. Then I’ve come back here and seen all the red and yellow. As a human being, of course it’s emotional.

“I’m delighted to be back but it was not an easy decision. I would not have come back the last time. I would not have taken Archie’s job. I just would not have done it. I’ve had quite a few chances to leave – but it’s Thistle.

“There will be some [Ayr] supporters that do question my loyalty but I hope the vast majority will appreciate how I’ve left the club. It doesn’t make it easier, though.

“Football is a very emotive sport and I think Thistle have lacked that emotion in the last couple of years. It should mean a lot to play for Thistle. It should be a huge honour. This is an incredibly special football club.”

One man who McCall took in at Ayr following his own departure from Thistle was legendary striker Kris Doolan, and he hopes they may reunite one day again at Firhill.

“I could see how much it hurt Kris Doolan leaving Thistle and I saw how much it meant to Chris Erskine too,” he said. “If it was my decision I wouldn’t have let Kris Doolan go. That’s not to slag off Gary [Caldwell] because each manager has to make his own judgments. But maybe it could have been handled better.

“He’s got a genuine love of Partick Thistle and you never know, Kris Doolan could be back here the future because he’s got a lot to offer. He’s got Thistle in his identity.

“I think it’s quite pertinent because we lost Mr McParland, the club’s greatest ever manager, and then we lost The Great Lambino, who is in the top three. Alan Archibald went through hell in his last year then Dools left. It must have been a nightmare being a Jags fan in the last couple of years. That’s got to change.

“We need to get the red and yellow back into this club and I’m sure we will do that.”