Partick Thistle have sacked manager Alan Archibald after a 2-0 home defeat by Ross County left them eighth in the Ladbrokes Championship.
Archibald has paid the price for a disappointing start to the season after a major summer overhaul following Thistle’s relegation via the play-offs.
The 40-year-old has been at Thistle for most of his life as a player, and manager since 2013, when he led the Jags to the top flight months after succeeding Jackie McNamara.
In a statement, club chairman Jacqui Low said: “It is with regret that the board of Partick Thistle Football Club today terminated the contracts of Alan Archibald and Scott Paterson.
“As a club with a proud reputation for supporting and backing its managers, this decision was not taken lightly. But it has been taken in the best interests of the football club and our fans.
“We gave Alan our full support following relegation, but were clear from the outset that our sole objective was to secure promotion back to the Premiership. However, results have not met our expectations so, if we are to still achieve our aim, a change had to happen now.
“The board wishes to place on record our genuine gratitude and thanks to Alan for his outstanding service to this club as player, captain, coach and manager. Over his tenure as manager, Thistle experienced many high points – not least promotion to the Premiership, consolidation in that division over several seasons and an unprecedented top-six finish in season 2016/17.
“These achievements are now woven into the fabric of the club’s history and can never be diminished. Alan and Scott leave the club with our very best wishes for their future careers.”
Thistle have appointed chief executive Gerry Britton, their former striker, as caretaker boss along with head of youth Scott Allison, while he leads the search for a replacement.
ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'f2a1bf7e-3839-4ffd-8d3d-45e02dbe313a');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Alan Archibald sacked as Partick Thistle manager'});
