WITH the January transfer window almost within sight, clubs all across Scotland will soon be scrambling to find players to bolster their respective campaigns. Partick Thistle are no different, as the Firhill club look to finish the season on a high note and make a push for the Premiership play-offs at the end of the season.
While things are improving on the pitch, McCall remains keen to add to his squad in January. Queen of the South defender Darren Brownlie and Ayr captain Ross Docherty have singed pre-contracts with Thistle and will join the club at the end of the current season - situations that McCall admits are a little uncomfortable.
"It has come out about Darren Brownlie the night it happened, but these things come out," McCall said. "My view is that this club has brought in million players, then released a million. We want to bring some stability.
"We have done everything by the book. It wasn’t a pleasant task telling Allan Johnston after we played them that we were going to speak to Brownlie. Mark Kerr at Ayr has known about Ross every step of the way. I actually brought him to Dundee United in the same way when he was at Falkirk. He understands the situation.
READ MORE: Ian McCall glad to see Partick Thistle building momentum
"It is a tough situation for Ross. I am here to improve the team and that’s what I want to do. Ross is a different type of midfielder to what we have.”
And with the January window looming, the Jags manager has been having frank discussions with his squad.
"I have been honest with the players, there will be changes but I am no different to any other manager," McCall said. "I said everyone would get opportunities and almost all of them have.
"There will be some who go, but a lot will stay. Ones who are out of contract at the end of the season, I have told them they are going nowhere in January because they have done well and it is up to them to keep that going. This is a chance to extend their stay. I think we need three or four in and some might go out. We won’t make huge changes.”
As well as bringing in new recruits, McCall revealed that wheels are in motion to extend the loan contracts of three players.
“We have not decided on Cammy [Palmer] yet," he added. "We have three loans we are going to try and Reece Cole and Osman Kakay if we can. We are working on that.”
Ian McCall was speaking to promote Just Employment Law extending its principal sponsorship of Partick Thistle FC for a fourth season to 2020/21.
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