Partick Thistle appoint Ian Baraclough as club's first sporting director

Partick Thistle has appointed Ian Baraclough as the club’s first-ever sporting director.

The former Northern Ireland and Motherwell manager will take up the role at Firhill with immediate effect and work alongside interim management team Brian Graham and Mark Wilson.

Thistle say they had more than 100 applicants for the sporting director role and decided on Baraclough after two rounds of competitive interviews.

The 54-year-old featured in more than 600 games as a player before embarking on a coaching and managerial career that included stops at Scunthorpe United, Sligo Rovers, Motherwell and both the under-21 and Men’s First Team of Northern Ireland.

His time at Fir Park included a promotion play-off win over Rangers in 2015, which kept Motherwell in the Premiership.

He said on his appointment: “I am excited to be on board at Partick Thistle and looking forward to getting started.

“I know from my previous time in Scotland that Partick Thistle is an iconic club with a great history and to be joining as it approaches its 150th birthday early next year is pretty special.

“I met general manager Levi Gill and some of the Directors for the first time during the application process and I am meeting up with the interim management team of Brian Graham and Mark Wilson today.

“A big part of the rest of the week will be meeting everyone else who works for the club whether they be players or backroom staff.”

Partick Thistle chairman Richard Beastall said: “On behalf of the board of Partick Thistle, I am proud to welcome our new Sporting Director Ian Baraclough to the club.

“We believe that the appointment of someone who has managed at an international level demonstrates our ambition and commitment to delivering our stated strategic ambition of becoming a sustainable Premiership club.

“Ian impressed us during the thorough process we undertook to identify someone with the skills and experience required to ensure our football operations are designed to bring long-term value to the club, whilst demonstrating that he will be a natural cultural fit for Partick Thistle.

“I know our supporters will join me in offering their full backing as he begins this exciting new chapter in our development as a fan-owned club.”

General manager Levi Gill added: “We’re delighted to welcome Ian Baraclough to Partick Thistle as our new Sporting Director. Ian brings a wealth of experience across coaching, development, and leadership, and his appointment marks a key step in strengthening our football operations.

“We look forward to working closely with him as we continue building a sustainable and successful future for the club, on and off the pitch.”