THREE Scots yesterday put their money in the kitty to recapture
Partick Thistle from the English, news which will delight those who turn
up at Firhill of a Saturday and the many who claim to be supporters.
Chairman Jim Donald, a property developer, director Bobby Watson, who
is in the steel business, and director Kevin Moore, a Cumbernauld
solicitor, have pooled their resources to buy Thistle's controlling
interest from Ken Bates, the Chelsea chairman.
While many consortia have been credited with soundings at Mr Bates'
door since he took over for #100,000 three years ago, the trio on site
have proved to be the men who matter. It has probably cost them around
#250,000, the #100,000 for the Bates holding, and enough to cover the
#100,000 loan the English property tycoon gave the club.
''Mr Bates was not the easiest man to deal with but we have managed,
eventually, to conclude the deal satisfactorily,''said Mr Donald.
The composition of the board will remain the same for the moment but
it is likely that Barry Spiers, the man who represented Mr Bates at
Firhill, will be leaving and there could be room for additions. ''We are
open minded about that,'' said Mr Donald, ''We are willing to talk to
anyone who is seriously interested in Partick Thistle.''
The chairman naturally hopes that the news will encourage hitherto
absent Thistle fans to come back but also thanked those who have been
backing the players recently. ''We are grateful, especially to the young
ones. As a gesture to them, we have decided to let accompanied children
in free for our last two home games,'' he said.
The new triumvirate has not had time to make long-term plans in any
detail but 'have ideas' and will put them forward in due course. Many of
these will, no doubt, be the main responsibility eventually of Mr Moore,
who has already produced some commercial momentum. Thistle will still
need a great deal of financial backing to lift the club into the
competitive arena in which they want to perform.
Watson, the former Rangers and Motherwell player and manager at Fir
Park, joined the club six months ago when he admits the morale was very
low. Since then there has been a gradual improvement under new manager
John Lambie, who has removed the threat of relegation from the place and
given the players self belief.
Watson claims that his stint as caretaker manager -- unbeaten in three
games -- had some significance but this is best left unheeded. Suffice
to say that he, Donald, and Moore deserve every credit for putting their
money where their mouths are. All Scottish football lovers will welcome
their initiative in securing the club's immediate future at least.
That future has been the subject of much speculation since the
chairman, then Miller Reid, agreed to the rescue cash offered by Mr
Bates. Although the Chelsea man himself and his fellow directors at
Firhill insisted there was no interest other than football involved,
supporters of the club have never been convinced about its security when
owned from afar.
Mr Bates, a controversial figure in England, was instrumental in the
appointment of Derek Johnstone, the former Rangers player, as
player-coach but that led inevitably to the departure of manager Bertie
Auld and his assistant Mike Jackson.
Then, a few months ago Miller Reid, whose family association with the
club seemed unbreakable, quit to be replaced by Mr Donald.
It would not be revealing any secrets to say that on a few occasions
during those turbulent times the club's very existence appeared in
jeopardy, but the fact that people who understand the place Thistle hold
in Glasgow hearts are in control will come as a great relief to many
thousands at home and abroad.
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