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Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How in-fighting and acrimony has led to Partick Thistle's spectacular summer meltdown
You might be familiar with the concept of the SPFL Statement League, a running joke that's sprung up on social media in recent years keeping track of which are the most easily offended or dysfunctional Scottish football clubs at any given time. In season 2025-26, though, there is no point in anyone outside Maryhill entering the competition. Partick Thistle surely have the title sewn up already, after releasing no less than five club statements between 10am last Monday and 2pm on Tuesday. The first was an angry response from the Championship outfit's board to an email which fan ownership group The Jags Foundation (TJF) had sent to their members outlining concerns around how the club is being run. The second, four hours later, announced that director Stuart Callison had resigned from the board, seemingly in protest at TJF's actions. The third then landed at 10pm, saying that a meeting had been held between the warring factions, and peace eventually broke out the following morning with a joint TJF/board statement stressing that 'key concerns were properly aired and understood' and insisting 'there remains much to be optimistic about at Partick Thistle'. Statement five, issued that afternoon, was the most shocking of the lot, revealing that sporting director Ian Baraclough had suffered serious injuries to his neck and back while swimming on his honeymoon in Mauritius. This last sad incident is of course no reflection on Thistle, but considered alongside everything that preceded it, it validated the notion that the fan-owned Jags are living through one of the most disastrous summers seen anywhere in recent Scottish football history. Or, as one scunnered fan eloquently put it on X: 'Have we p****d in God's Cornflakes or something?' Faced with a choice between casting the net wider or confirming the interim management team of veteran striker Brian Graham and Under-18s boss Mark Wilson — who had steered the team to the semi-finals of the Premiership play-offs after taking charge in February — Thistle tried to have their cake and eat it. The club spoke to a number of external candidates (including, controversially, Dougie Imrie, boss of bitter rivals Greenock Morton) then decided to offer it to Graham after all — only to be rebuffed and left with little choice but to appoint Wilson. Chairman Richard Beastall's ill-advised comments about Wilson being the 'brains of the operation' and Graham the 'alpha male' were then followed by Thistle's goalscoring centurion cutting ties with the club completely and being snapped up by Championship winners Falkirk, where he will look to take his prolific form on to the Premiership stage. Meanwhile, Thistle's kit launch has been delayed, an advert has gone out seeking a 'volunteer' finance director and a long-awaited squad update revealed a bloated group still containing 19 contracted players. And if that wasn't enough, the club are also facing SPFL sanctions over a pitch invasion and the use of pyrotechnics in their play-off win over Ayr at Somerset Park last month. You can just picture the documentary crew who spent last season filming behind the scenes at Firhill greetin' in the edit suite and wondering aloud why they didn't do it this season instead. But, first of all, let's spare a thought for ordinary fans like Matt Greer. 'It's just been bizarre,' sighs Greer, host of the Thistle fan podcast Draw, Lose or Draw. 'Obviously, what concerns me most is the wellbeing of Ian Baraclough, all the best to him in his recovery. But a couple of the club's statements on Monday were very poor. And one of the biggest things that came out of it was that the budget for next season still hadn't been finalised as of earlier this week. 'It was emphasised that this hasn't prevented any activity — but since we haven't actually signed anyone, it certainly hasn't helped. 'It feels like we're already playing catch-up with the other Championship clubs, despite having a sporting director in place since April. We've got a decent core of players signed up for next season, but at this stage it certainly doesn't look like we'll be any closer to promotion. 'I don't think Mark Wilson is a bad appointment, but he wasn't my first choice and he wasn't the board's either, so I'm not sure why we're pretending he was. I'm glad we haven't ended up with Dougie Imrie, but being knocked back by Brian Graham after he had just about pleaded for the job on national TV isn't a great look.' The ructions on Firhill Road have came at an interesting juncture for the wider fan ownership movement within Scottish football. Plenty of fan-owned clubs are prospering; look at St Mirren's regular top-six finishes, or at Falkirk's double promotion. But the counter-argument to that is provided by troubled outfits like Partick Thistle and Morton — who almost lost the popular Imrie to Thistle after accidentally incurring a FIFA transfer ban and not telling their supporters about it until a month and a half later. In truth, fan ownership has been a bumpy journey for Thistle from the start, from the sudden death of EuroMillions winner Colin Weir in 2019, only a month after he bought the club with the intention of gifting control to the fans, to the fraught back-and-forth between the previous board, the Jags Foundation and the PTFC Trust (the body which controversially usurped the Foundation as the chosen recipient of the shares). With the Trust and the Foundation vowing to work together constructively, the shares were officially transferred in the summer of 2023. Since then, despite frequent cash flow issues, Thistle have managed to consistently push for promotion via the play-offs, whilst off the pitch they have hired a new general manager, commercial manager, head of media, sporting director and head of recruitment. But if these appointments were designed to make the club a sleeker and more professional operation, so far at least, they appear to have had the opposite effect. 'There are certain things they've done in recent months that haven't made a lot of sense, then others where you think, 'OK, I wouldn't have made that decision, but fair enough',' a former Firhill insider tells Mail Sport. 'But right now, they don't seem to have a clue. 'I would have gone in private to TJF and said, 'OK, that's not helpful, we need to think about what channels of communication we have'. But to put out a statement… God almighty, Scottish football could do with a lot less statements! 'Brian and Mark did a good job, the team had positive momentum, and then you lose one of them because you p****d him off, and bring in the other one. It's like having an open goal in front of you and turning round, running the length of the pitch and scoring past your own keeper. 'Previously, the plan was very clear about getting to the Premiership and staying there in a sustainable way, but I don't feel there is any inspiration, or that vision is realistic now. It's not clear, beyond some warm words, what they are they doing about the youth academy, about a proper training ground or about the long-term development of Firhill. 'These are the things you want to be hearing about as a fan and they're not making statements about them, yet every two minutes they're making statements about this other stuff. I really can't see how this situation continues and how this board continues.' Thistle are one of the biggest clubs currently playing below the top flight, with a pronounced community feel and a track record of fan activism (dating back to the Save the Jags campaign in the late '90s) few others can claim. So if they can't make fan ownership work, it would be a worrying precedent, at a time when the number of fan-owned SPFL clubs is almost into double figures. But, despite recent events, Greer remains convinced that it's the way forward for the Jags long-term. 'I'm still pro-fan ownership, I don't think it's fair to blame an entire model on a sticky few months,' he says. 'But I think it's pretty clear that we could be using some help off the pitch as well as on it, in terms of financial expertise and also in the communications department.' 'With fan ownership, it's easy to look at it from the outside and say it's a mess, but that doesn't mean it can't work,' concludes the former insider. 'I give a lot of credit to the Foundation, they've increased the numbers going to games, they've done an awful lot of good stuff and should take an enormous amount of credit for that. 'The problem is that it only works well when a club is fan-owned rather than fan-run, and at the moment Thistle are verging on being fan-run. 'You have to accept you need professionals in football, at any level — a proper chairman/chief executive/finance director/manager etc. Because if you haven't got them, you're doomed to failure.'
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Graham admits he must 'earn the right' to play for Bairns
Brian Graham knows he has to "earn the right" to start for back-to-back title winners Falkirk after signing a one-year veteran striker scored 21 goals in all competitions last season for Partick Thistle and was so impressed by the eventual league-winners, he wanted to be a part of it."I'm looking forward to getting in and playing with the players that are already in the building because, obviously, playing against them, I can see how well coached they are and how well they play together as a team," the 37-year-old told club media. "You don't get any big egos. They're a team that are hard-working and look after each other and it's something I want to be involved in."Graham is no stranger to working with John McGlynn - the manager signed him at Raith Rovers - but he is aware is experience doesn't mean a start is a given. "I've got to come in there and earn the right," he added. "It's not just because I'm older and inexperienced that it means I'm going to walk in and be in the team. "I know through experience that I'm going to need to come in here, hit the ground running and really work hard to get in this Falkirk side because they've been excellent over the last two years."That's why they've got back-to-back promotions and it's up to me now to work hard, get my head down and get myself in the team."
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Veteran striker Graham switches Thistle for Bairns
Falkirk have signed "one of the hardest working strikers" in Brian Graham, as the veteran forward joins on a one-year 37-year-old scored 21 goals in all competitions last season for Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle and has over 220 goals in his 18-year is the second time John McGlynn has signed Graham, having previously done so in 2011 with Raith Rovers, and Graham said he "couldn't say no" to working with the manager again."Brian's had an amazing career and it's a credit to him and the way he's look after himself that he's still one of the hardest working strikers going about," McGlynn told club media."He has the natural instincts of a top striker, he's in the right place at the right time, he knows the position inside out and with the number of crosses we put in the box, I'm sure there's plenty more goals to come."Brian is a winner, he is very determined individual and his experience at this level will be important to the team. "I've said we needed Premiership experience and physicality, and Brian brings both of those in abundance."The former Hibernian forward has 25 goals in 96 top-flight appearances with Dundee United, St Johnstone and Ross County."The opportunity to work with John McGlynn again was one I couldn't say no to," the former Partick Thistle women's manager said. "You can see how well the players and staff have done here over the last two years with back-to-back promotions, and it's a chance for myself to get back and play in the Premiership as well."It's up to me now to work hard, get the head down, and get myself in the team. With the wide players here, I know for a fact I'm going to get chances to score goals and I'm really looking forward to getting started."
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Scottish football cult hero finds new club at 37 after turning down management offer to keep playing
STILL GAME Scottish football cult hero finds new club at 37 after turning down management offer to keep playing Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRIAN GRAHAM has signed for Falkirk one-year deal ahead of their return to the top flight. The Partick Thistle cult hero turns 38 later this year but has been determined to keep playing. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 09.05.2025 Ayr United v Partick Thistle; SPFL Premiership Play-Off quarter final 2nd leg ……………… Brian Graham celebrates with fans Credit: Kenny Ramsay He turned down the chance to be the full-time manager at Firhill after a short spell as a temporary player-manager. We told you last month the Graham had been targeted by Falkirk following their promotion to the Premiership. John McGlynn's men clinched the Championship title on a dramatic final day, as rivals Livingston lost to Partick. McGlynn has already signed up Rangers icon Scott Arfield for another year at the Falkirk Stadium. He also bolstered his squad with former Celtic backup goalkeeper Scott Bain. But Graham, who scored 100 goals for Thistle, will now be a key man as they look to keep their place in the top flight beyond just this season. McGlynn said of his new signing: 'Brian Graham is someone both myself and Paul have worked with before having signed him for Raith Rovers from Morton back in 2011. 'I've got to say he's had an amazing career and it's a credit to him and the way he's look after himself that he's still one of the hardest working strikers going about. 'His stats are very impressive scoring fifteen Championship goals and twenty-one goals in all competitions, he has the natural instincts of a top striker, he's in the right place at the right time, he knows the position inside out, with the number of crosses we put in the box I'm sure there's plenty more goals to come 'Brian is a winner, he is very determined individual and his experience at this level will be important to the team, I've said we needed Premiership experience and physicality, and Brian brings both of those in abundance, we're all looking forward to working with him.' Celtic transfer special - Nygren in and Kyogo to return Graham added: 'The opportunity to work with John McGlynn again was one I couldn't say no to. You can see how well the players and staff have done here over the last two years, back-to-back promotions, and it's a chance for myself to get back and play in the Premiership as well. 'This is a great stadium, and you can tell with the number of season tickets that have been sold already that the place is going to be rocking on matchdays, and that's something I'm relishing. 'It's up to me now to work hard, get the head down, and get myself in the team. 'With the wide players here, I know for a fact I'm going to get chances to score goals and I'm really looking forward to getting started.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Celtic and two other SPFL clubs served with surprise notices of complaint 26 days after season finished
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CELTIC are one of three SPFL teams facing disciplinary action over 'unacceptable conduct' by fans at matches, league bosses have revealed. A statement released by the league say that the Hoops, Aberdeen and Partick Thistle all face "notices of complaint" at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 3 Hampden officials have released the statement Credit: SNS 3 Aberdeen's Jack MacKenzie gets treatment on the pitch Credit: PA 3 SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster Credit: Kenny Ramsay At the SFA's annual meeting on Thursday, clubs agreed to an increase in the powers to award sanctions against clubs whose fans continue to disrupt games by their use of flares. The Scottish FA's powers now mirror those of the SPFL, whose punishments range from fines and ticket allocation restrictions - and can include to the ultimate sanction, expulsion from the Scottish Cup. There's no details of the specific charges mentioned in the SPFL statement but Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie was struck in the face by a seat thrown by his own fans on the final day of the league campaign at Tannadice. The news comes four weeks after the SPFL regular season came to an end, although Thistle also featured in the play-offs. The SPFL statement read: "During the 2024/25 season the SPFL took disciplinary action against a number of clubs and notices of complaints have now been raised against three clubs in respects of incidents which occurred at the end of the season - Partick Thistle, Aberdeen and Celtic. "As well as club bans, unwelcome incidents have unfortunately made it abundantly clear that there is a need for far more widespread use of football banning orders (FBOs) and we are encouraged by the progress being made in partnership with our clubs, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government. "We have been discussing broadening the scope of these orders as part of the Scottish Government's FBO working group and we're extremely pleased to see this was covered in the Programme for Government in May. "These recent incidents reinforce the need for such sanctions to protect the match-day experience for the vast majority of law-abiding fans." More to follow. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
