McGinn is relieved that registration complication didn’t stop Jags switch
PAUL McGINN feared being stranded in football limbo until January as a registration hitch threatened to scupper his switch to Partick Thistle.
The defender made a fine debut in the 2-2 draw against Rangers on Friday and hopes to follow up that display in the Betfred Cup rematch on Tuesday.
However, his desire to return to Scottish football after a grim relegation and injury-hit season at Chesterfield had been in the balance because his contract at the League Two club was not cancelled in time.
The clubs were able to convince authorities that the mix-up was purely an administrative mistake rather than any problem with the negotiations over his release and subsequent free transfer.
Alan Archibald wanted McGinn involved in last weekend’s league game at Ross County but had to wait until the issue was fully resolved before handing the 26-year-old a start on Friday night.
‘Thankfully it went through in the end but it took a lot longer than it should have done,’ said McGinn. ‘It was a bit of a worry that it hadn’t been sorted properly before the end of the window.
‘At one point, I was worried I’d be in limbo until January. That would sum my luck up. But because it was only an admin error I hoped they would be okay about it and they were in the end.
‘It was human error. We had to go the FA for them to review it. Maybe if I’d been playing in the Premier League, they’d have got it through in time for Dingwall.
‘But I think they had a few bigger deals to work on! I heard on Thursday that everything looked like it was okay, so I wasn’t sweating too much.’
McGinn, brother of John at Hibs and St Mirren’s Stephen, left Dundee last summer after eight seasons in Scotland to sample the English game for the first time.
However, a bungled attempt to return too quickly from a hamstring injury against Fleetwood in October cost the 26-year-old five months, during which time Chesterfield — who yesterday parted company with manager Gary Caldwell — hurtled towards the drop.
‘I missed most of the season,’ he complained. ‘The team were mid-table when I got injured. We’d started the slide and they rushed me back early. That was a major mistake on their part and my part.
‘When I came back for the last five games, we were second bottom and it was a different team. I think the white flag was up a bit. We’d lost a few players in January and had effectively replaced them with kids. ‘You can’t do that. It started really well for me. I remember the boys singing a song to me about whisky and haggis. I was playing well and had a good partnership with our then-winger Gboly Ariyibi, but he got a move to Nottingham Forest.’ McGinn’s release from the League Two strugglers paved the way for him to sign a one-year deal at Thistle — and go straight into the line of fire from Rangers supporters. ‘It’s like I’d never been away,’ grinned the former Dumbarton man. ‘I was getting a bit of stick from the Rangers fans on my side and had a cup launched at me but thankfully their aim was off. ‘We didn’t play well until a spell in the second half when we had them on the ropes and were going for a third goal. ‘That was tiring. My legs were cramping up near the end chasing the ball in the corner but it feels good to be back playing. ‘I think we can kick on from getting this point. It’s not relegation form and we’re hoping that’s the start of a good run. I think it’s a very good squad I’ve joined. ‘Training is very sharp and possessionbased. I’ve been impressed. ‘My brothers said that Partick would be a good fit because they play good football and it’s a well-run club.’
‘I WORRIED ABOUT BEING IN LIMBO UNTIL JANUARY. THAT WOULD SUM MY LUCK UP’