IT didn't take long before Tomas Cerny was hankering for dreich days, dark nights and the feeling of frostbite turning his fingers blue inside his gloves.

The man who carved out a reputation as one of Scottish football's best goalkeepers during a five-year spell at Hamilton Academical was facing an altogether different environment last summer. Having just signed a two-year deal with Crete side Ergotelis following a stint at CSKA Sofia, the Czech was looking forward to two seasons with the burning sun on his back and a spring in his step.

Yet within a matter of days concerns began to cloud the experience for him as the reality of the precarious financial situation in Greece took hold.

"There were a lot of worries in Greece. I was in Crete and it's a beautiful place. I would love to go back - but only on holiday," said Cerny, who has now found sanctuary in Maryhill with a 12-month contract at Partick Thistle.

"I was happy in terms of football but there were other issues. In Crete you fly to all the games and you spend a lot of time in hotels and away from the family. You make a lot of sacrifices but when you don't receive your salary at the end of it you wonder 'what is the point'?

"It's quite common over there. I started having my doubts in pre-season after I spoke to a few of the players. I had a two-year contract and was prepared to stay. But it became clear you could go three or four weeks without getting paid. I started to think the longer I stayed the more money I would be owed.

"I love football but it's hard because you still have a family to look after. The sunshine doesn't pay the bills."

Cerny's desire to return to Scotland was understandable both from a professional and personal perspective. The man who was once voted Hamilton's player of the year has proven consistently that he is more than capable in the Scottish top flight, and at 30 still has plenty to offer. There is also the small matter of his wife, Laura, being Scottish and the birth of his new-born son, Luca, that made a move back to more drookit climes an easy choice for him.

It is a journey to Thistle that has taken Cerny via Edinburgh with a five-month stint warming the Hibernian bench during the second half of the season. But it's not an experience the former CSKA Sofia goalkeeper is keen to dismiss as a failure, despite his lack of first-team football.

"It's great to have the opportunity to come to Partick and play in the Premiership again. My main aim is to be No.1 and play every week," said Cerny.

"I wouldn't say I was frustrated at Hibs. I knew when I went there in January there was already an established goalkeeper there. I knew it was a possibility I wouldn't get in the team but it was a chance to get back to Scotland and back to training. I had a good experience there."

There is a real sense that while Cerny was keen to establish himself again in Scotland, the decision to join Thistle is one that is a good fit for both player and club.

Following the departure of Scott Fox last week, Alan Archibald has brought in a shot stopper every bit as proven and capable as his predecessor. If not more so. It also offers Cerny a window of opportunity for sustained appearances at a club with lofty aspirations, not to mention raise a future Scotland goalkeeping star.

"I feel I have two homes - the Czech Republic and Scotland. I married a Scottish girl and my son, Luca, was born here. If he goes on to play football he has three options as his grandfather was born in Germany," said Cerny.

"I am not sure if he will be a footballer - he is only three months! As long as he is happy I will be happy.

"It's great to be settled back here again and I am looking forward to next season with Partick. I don't make any predictions but this is a good club in the Premiership. You always want to improve on last year so that will be the initial aim and we will see where we go from there."

Meanwhile, Thistle have also announced Jack Hendry, who made his first team debut in the goalless draw with Motherwell on the final day of the season, and David Wilson, who made his first start in the same fixture, have both signed new one-year contracts.

It follows the news that striker Steven Lawless signed a one-year extension to his current contract last week.