Chris Erskine: Give Jackie job full-time
Erskine backs McNamara for the Thistle job
By MATTHEW HAROLD at Firhill
PARTICK Thistle midfielder Chris Erskine put his weight firmly behind Jackie McNamara for the Firhill job.
The former Scotland international's bid to get the Firhill job full-time were given a boost with a three goal hammering of second place Raith Rovers.
The 24-year-old Erskine spoke exclusively to The Away End after the final whistle to call for McNamara to be given the post permanently.
He said: “I think everybody, all the players at the club want Jackie to get it.
"He’s a great guy to learn from, he knows the game inside out, so I think he should get it definitely and we’re all hoping he does, but I really don’t know.”
Erskine is also hopeful about the Maryhill side’s chances of challenging for the title next season, saying: “You seen today against Raith Rovers, who are second in the league and we were by far the better team and we’ve gave teams above us like Dunfermline a good game throughout the year.
“We started badly at the start of the year and I think if we hadn’t have dropped silly points against teams like Stirling Albion and Cowdenbeath at the bottom, then we’d have been up there challenging, but it’s definitely the aim next season to be pushing on and hopefully we can challenge as long as we start well.”
On the victory over the Kirkcaldy side, Erskine said: “It was great, it was exactly what we wanted; to finish the season on a high and get as many points and get as high up in the league as possible and everything went for us.”
And of his own performance, Erskine added: “I had a chance in the first half, which I could have maybe took another touch in the box before I hit it but, it’s one of those things.”
With the former Kilbirnie Ladeside midfielder being one of the stars of the season for the Firhill men, there may be interest from some SPL sides, but Erskine is in no mood for leaving, claiming: “As far as I know, I signed a new two-year deal so I’m looking forward to playing again next season and progressing.
“I’ve done better this year than I did in my first year and I’m looking forward to progress again and be a better player, but if something happens and the club need to sell he, then, I don’t know I’ll just have to look at it, but I’ve not heard anything, so I’m looking forward to next year and playing with Thistle.”
And finally the midfielder spoke of the Firhill surface, which has come in for criticism this season, saying: “It’s just one of those things, it’s the rugby, it just kind of kills the game, but it’s for both teams, I think the only good thing is that people don’t like coming to play here, neither do we, that’s probably the only thing, but I’m sure the groundsman by next season will have it looking great, or alright again and we’ll see how it goes after Christmas.”
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