McCALL KEEPING CALM AMID FAN FURY AT THISTLE

IAN McCALL insists the civil war raging behind the scenes at Partick Thistle is not affecting his ailing team. There were chants of ‘Sack the Board’ during last Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Arbroath in the Championship amid a messy dispute over the handling of fan ownership of the club. Some supporters believed the fan-ownership model at Firhill has been diluted — a claim denied by under-fire chair Jacqui Low. Banners with messages criticising Low were unfurled during last Saturday’s match, and there has been a call by some fans to boycott the John Lambie Stand for tomorrow’s Scottish Cup tie against Kelty Hearts at Firhill. Manager McCall admits the situation is not ideal, but does not believe it has contributed to Thistle losing six of their last seven games. In October, the Jags were top of the Championship and anticipating a League Cup quarter-final at Aberdeen before their form dipped dramatically.

Asked if the off-field issues were to blame, the Thistle boss said: ‘No, I don’t think so. In comparison to having six key players out (injured) it hasn’t, no. But, obviously, if you are asking me if I wish it wasn’t there and we were all sailing on the Good Ship Thistle, then I think I’d rather have that. But it is what it is.’ McCall agreed that the proposed boycott was not ideal, adding: ‘No, not at all. But I am employed to try and win a game of football and that’s what we will be trying to do this weekend.’ Last weekend’s win against Arbroath stopped the rot on the pitch, and he hopes it will give his side a boost ahead of hosting a Kelty side who sit eighth in League One. Yet he admits there is a constant pressure around the Maryhill club, and it’s one he believes stems from sharing a city with the Old Firm. ‘If you’re aware of things that are happening around the club, I can assure you there is always pressure,’ he said. ‘But I always think at our club, we put ourselves under more pressure than need be. I think that’s because we are right in the middle of Rangers and Celtic.’