Wednesday 16th August, 2023 at 2:36pm
Partick Thistle FC are delighted to announce that Paul McDonald has been appointed men’s first team assistant manager to Kris Doolan on a permanent basis.
This appointment sees Paul move from his previous role as Thistle Weir Youth Academy director to his new full-time position as first team assistant manager.
Everyone at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill offers their congratulations and best wishes to Paul – who has now served Thistle as player, academy director and assistant manager – in this hugely important role at the club.
Paul McDonald said: “I’m both thrilled and very proud to accept the role as assistant manager to Kris on a permanent basis. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Kris so far, he is someone I have a great deal of respect for and I believe we form a great partnership, so I’m excited by what lies ahead now we can all benefit from this certainty.
“Partick Thistle is a club that has grown to mean a lot to me over the years, firstly as a player and then as academy director, before the latest opportunity arrived. Not many people get to enjoy two such excellent off-field roles as academy director and assistant manager and, while I love doing both, there is just no substitute for being in the dugout and working with the first team on the training pitch.
“I’d like to thank Kris, the players, club staff and the board for their support so far and most of all I thank all the Thistle fans for their backing of the management team. I can promise them I will give 100% as I always have in all my roles for the club.”
Further updates on future plans for the Thistle Weir Youth Academy starting with the recruitment of a new academy director to succeed Paul will be published by the club from later today.
Partick Thistle chairman Alistair Creevy said: “On behalf of the board of Partick Thistle FC, first of all we’d like to say how delighted we are that Paul has agreed to become men’s first team assistant manager on a permanent basis. His positive impact on the men’s first team alongside Kris to date has been there for all to see and I think everyone around the football department environment will benefit from the certainty and continuity that this announcement provides.
“While we congratulate Paul and wish him every success in his new role going forward, we must also acknowledge and thank him for his excellent leadership of the Thistle Weir Youth Academy since he returned to the club in December 2021. The impact of the academy on the first team at present is tangible, with so many graduates making a huge contribution to the team winning our Viaplay Cup group and earning a trip to Tynecastle. Such success provides a platform for the Thistle Weir Youth Academy to continue to strengthen and we’ll update on future plans for the academy very shortly.”
