Mhairi Black hits out at 'disgusting' Partick Thistle takeover as fans group say battle for club 'not over'

A recent takeover of Partick Thistle has been branded “disgusting” by an MP as a fan group bidding to become majority shareholders insist the battle for the club “is not over”.

The Maryhill club confirmed on Tuesday that Colin Weir’s shares would be transferred to the PTFC Trust after talks with The Jags Foundation fell through earlier this year.

But in a statement released on Wednesday, the Foundation claim the move was “crafted for the benefit of the existing club board”.

SNP MP and Partick Thistle supporter Mhairi Black also hit out at the move saying: “This statement, along with the entire process, has been utterly disgraceful.

“Secret deals being made between the unelected is something I have come to expect from my work, not my football club.”

But Thistle have insisted that the “long term stability” offered by the deal would end “almost three years of uncertainty”.

A statement from The Jags Foundation said: “We believe that the PTFC Trust deal was not fan-initiated.

“Anyone who tells you this is fan ownership, or that it is time to accept it and move on, is treating the Thistle support with contempt.

“Regardless of what has happened, we now need to build credibility, legitimacy and effective accountability for the ownership arrangement that has been imposed on us.”

“We have made suggestions about how to unite the Thistle fanbase.”

Thistle’s club statement said: “Following almost three years of uncertainty, the club welcomes the long-term stability that this shares transfer will bring to Partick Thistle FC and looks forward to working with the PTFC Trust to maximise the success of the club.

“With this off-the-pitch matter now settled, focus turns back to football, starting with this Friday’s trip to Falkirk in the SPFL Trust Trophy.”

Lottery winner Colin Weir was the majority shareholder of Partick Thistle until his death in 2019.

Since then his shares have been owned by The Three Black Cats company but they have been officially passed on to PTFC Trust, who now hold around 74% of the club’s shares.