Out with the Cald in with the new
BIG MATCH PREVIEWS PARTICK v DUNF’MLINE ANTHONY HAGGERTY
JOE CARDLE admits he felt devastated for Gary Caldwell after the former Celtic and Scotland star was sacked as Partick Thistle boss this week.
Caldwell was given the boot with the Maryhill men sitting second bottom of the Championship without a win this season.
Jags chief executive Gerry Britton, alongside academy director Scott Allison and former Rangers striker Kenny Miller, will take charge of the team against fellow basement strugglers Dunfermline at Firhill today.
Cardle said: “It has been a tough week for the club with everything that has gone on and it’s never a nice situation.
“Nobody likes to see anybody lose their job and we are all disappointed.
“I had a great relationship with Gary. I learned a lot from him and he gave me so much on and off the pitch.
“I am devastated for Gary and I still think he has a lot to give.
“The chemistry never worked for him at Partick and I wish him all the best. As players we also need to look at ourselves and the part we played in that.
“There will be a candidates putting themselves forward for this job as this is a club with real potential to get back into the Premiership.
“The future manager might be watching from the stands at the Dunfermline game and they will be interested to see how the players respond.”
Cardle reckons that a match-up against his former employers is enough to spur him on to help the Jags secure their first three points of the campaign after two draws and three defeats.
The 32-year-old, who has two goals in 11 appearances this season, said: “This is one of the fixtures I look out for at the start of every season and it is always nice to play against your former club.
“If we can get that first victory of the season against Dunfermline and other results go our way then we could start the climb away from the foot of the table.”
Meanwhile, Pars kid Lewis McCann is hopeful some friendly sibling rivalry can bring him success with his club and Northern Ireland. The 18-year-old won his first two caps for the Under-21s earlier this month and was joined in the Irish squad by his older brother Ali, the St Johnstone midfielder.
Striker Lewis came on as second-half substitute in the stalemate with Malta before starting the draw with Finland.
He said: “Going away with Northern Ireland is a huge confidence booster.
“My brother came away with us as well, which was great. He was called up the day before we left.
“It’s nice that we’re both now playing and my parents are really proud.”