McNamara's well-tuned band

Sunday 9 September 2012

THE award has Jackie McNamara's name on it, but the sense of achievement is shared.

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Chris Jack

The Partick Thistle manager has collected his first silverware of the season after being named Irn-Bru First Division manager of the month for August but his sights remain firmly fixed on grander prizes.

It is the second time McNamara has landed such an accolade since being given the top job at Firhill and it is undoubtedly well deserved, with the Jags winning seven of their eight games so far this season and topping the First Division table with the only 100% league record in the country.

It is McNamara that is being talked about as a result of Thistle's impressive start to the campaign yet he is keen to highlight the role played by Simon Donnelly, his former team-mate, assistant manager and, more importantly, closest friend."We are learning together," he said. "We are novices to the management side of it, but Simon is a very good coach and knows the game well. He has the same thoughts as myself and he is someone I trust."If we win, we win together. If we fail, we fail together. You go on courses and they tell you not to pick your best pal as No 2 but I don't see it that way. I know he can do the job and he has got my back, and vice versa."Sometimes you see managers going in and when they lose their job, the No 2 takes over. We came here together and will go together. That is the way we are: we are best friends and work well together. We have a great staff at the club and we all get on very well. I think that reflects on to the players."McNamara's stock and reputation will undoubtedly rise should Thistle's run continue their impressive form as he attempts to translate a glittering playing career into success in the dugout. It is a transition that almost never happened, though, as a coaching position was not always an appealing prospect.Age has changed his outlook, however. The 38-year-old former Celtic defender said: "When I was younger, I always told my dad I wouldn't go into coaching. I'd see the stick coaches got and hear some guys I really respect in the game talking behind their backs."I didn't want people talking about me like that. But as you get older, you start to see things differently on the park, looking at coaching methods or things you would change or use."It is the next progression from playing. To be honest, I am not bothered if anybody talks behind my back now. You believe in what you are doing."Along with Simon and the rest of the staff at the club, we believe we are trying to do the right things with the players and try to be honest with them."Hopefully, they come and enjoy playing football. We try to play in the right way. Players don't get a lot of money now, so we hope they come for the enjoyment and the desire."Thistle face Raith Rovers in a Ramsdens Cup quarter-final at Firhill this afternoon. It is the only all-First Division tie in the last eight, and Thistle are keen to put right and indifferent record against the Kirkcaldy club."Raith have started the season well," McNamara said. "Grant Murray has come in as manager and done very well. They lost to Dunfermline last weekend but they put Ross County out of the cup and scored a few goals. They were a bit of a bogey team for us last year."

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McNamara's well-tuned band

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