Archibald named Thistle boss on permanent basis

PArTiCk Thistle have confirmed the appointment of Alan Archibald as manager on a permanent basis.

Archibald has been in interim charge of the team since Jackie McNamara and assistant Simon Donnelly left Firhill to take over at Dundee United in late January.

The Thistle defender has helped maintain their promotion push, with the Jags two points behind irn-Bru First Division leaders Morton with two games in hand.

Chairman David Beattie said: “i’m absolutely delighted to be able to confirm the appointment of Alan Archibald as Partick Thistle manager and Scott Paterson as his assistant.

“i look forward to working closely with them as we continue to work hard at providing a club that we can all take pride in.”

Archibald first signed for Thistle as a player when he was 18 and helped the club move from the Second Division into the Premier league in successive seasons at the turn of the century.

he went on to make more than 200 appearances for the club before moving in 2003 to Dundee United, where he played in the club’s 1-0 defeat by Celtic in the 2005 Scottish Cup final at hampden Park.

The 35-year-old spent four years at Tannadice before returning to Firhill in 2007. he was also selected to play for Scotland’s Under 21 team, gaining five caps in 1998.