Partick Thistle: Three managerial candidates to succeed Ian McCall
Partick Thistle announced that Ian McCall was relieved of his duties on Sunday evening, just hours after a Scottish Cup exit to Rangers.
McCall leaves the Maryhill club fifth in the Scottish Championship and a mere point below the promotion play-offs. The manner of the 58-year-old’s departure was a surprise considering their impressive performance at Ibrox against the cup holders, however, in a statement, the club announced that recent league results was a factor in their decision.
Let’s look at three potential contenders that the club could appoint to strengthen their promotion push…
KRIS DOOLAN
The 38-year-old has been handed the reins on a interim basis following McCall’s dismissal, stepping up from his coaching role with the under 18s.
Doolan is currently ranked fourth in Thistle’s all-time top goal scorers having featured in over 400 matches during a 10-year spell between 2009 and 2019.
With his legendary status and depending on how he fares as caretaker, the club may feel that a sense of continuity is the best way forward and offer Doolan the opportunity to cut his teeth in management.
DANNY LENNON
Lennon is revered amongst the Firhill faithful after captaining the club to successive promotions in the 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 season.
The 53-year-old is out of work having departed League One club Clyde in October of last year, having led the Bully Wee to promotion from League Two in 2019 and maintained their status in the third tier for four consecutive seasons.
His first managerial role was with Cowdenbeath, where he achieved back-to-back promotions, which earned him a move to Scottish Premiership club St Mirren. During four years in Paisley, Lennon won the Scottish League Cup in 2013, while also preserving their position in the top-flight.
Lennon is vastly experienced in the Scottish game and has the managerial expertise to achieve relevant success, particularly with budgetary constraints.
It is also worth remembering that the club were denied permission by Clyde to open communication with the Jags legend, before they appointed McCall in September 2019.
The club could decide to reapproach Lennon and offer him another opportunity to manage his former club, 20 years after he left Firhill- a proposition he might find increasingly difficult to turn down.
JIM GOODWIN
Another who has recently joined the managerial merry-go-round, Goodwin was sacked from Aberdeen last month after almost a year in the Granite City.
The 41-year-old made his foray into management with Alloa Athletic and led the Wasps to Scottish Championship promotion via. the play-offs in 2018 and ensured survival the following season. In June 2019, Goodwin returned to St Mirren where he registered two semi-final cup appearances and achieved the Buddies’ highest league finish since 1989.
Despite a disappointing end to his tenure at Pittordrie, Goodwin remains highly regarded as an up-and-coming manager and could view Thistle as the ideal club to rebuild his reputation and secure a quickfire return to the dugout.