BRIAN GRAHAM knocked back Premiership offers from Kilmarnock, St Johnstone and Motherwell to sign for Partick Thistle - and believes he can help the club reach the Premiership play-offs at the end of the season.
Graham completed a move to Firhill from Ross County for an undisclosed fee yesterday afternoon, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal, and said that being able to move closer to his family was a huge factor in his decision.
"I’m delighted to get it over the line and to be back down the road with the family," he said. "There were a few other things happening in the background and I’d been in and mentioned that to the managers at Ross County. They understood my situation and they were great with me. I have to thank them for allowing it to happen.
"There’s been interest for a few weeks and I’m delighted to finally be here. It’s a local club.
"They’ve tried to sign me a few times. The way Ian is setting about his work at the club I thought I could come here and try and help.
"It’s 10 minutes from the house and that’s a big draw for me. I’m really looking forward to helping the team get up the league."
Swapping top-flight football for a side second-bottom of the Championship might look a little strange to some, but Graham is confident that he can help the Jags rise up the league standings.
Having won the Championship twice previously, first with Hibernian and then with Ross County, the 32-year-old knows what it takes to get out of the division - and has first-hand experience of the cut-throat league.
"I know [goalkeeper Scott] Fox well and I spoke to him at length about it [the move]," Graham said. "He told me the dressing room was good. I had a great first impression in the dressing room this morning with them. The boys are up for the challenge and I can’t wait to get started.
"A lot of people don’t understand how hard a league the Championship is. I’ve played in it a number of times and I’ve been lucky enough to win it twice. So I want to bring my experience to the younger boys and help them along the way as we strive to get up this league."
Graham could be thrown in to Ian McCall's starting line-up tomorrow when the Jags take on Arbroath at Gayfield, and could find himself playing alongside fellow new recruit Zak Rudden.
And while the pair haven't played together, Graham is confident he can strike up a fruitful partnership with his new team-mate.
"I’m looking forward to playing with Zak," he added. "I saw him last season when he was on loan at Falkirk and I was really impressed with him. I didn’t really know much about him. He’s a young boy, where I’m more experienced. If I can help him along the way that will be good for him.
"You never know where you can go. It’s been a good January recruitment by the club and now we have to knuckle down and see where that takes us. We need to start winning games – starting on Saturday."
It was a case of one in, one out at Firhill yesterday as Kenny Miller left the club after he and Thistle agreed to mutually terminate the 40-year-old's contract.
The former Rangers striker leaves the club with 10 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions - and with the best wishes of McCall.
"Kenny wasn’t going to play but it was amicable," said the Thistle manager. "He was first class but we felt it was the right thing.
"Alex Jones has to try and get in the team and when he has got a chance he has done well. We have Dario Zanatta so it was a number of things. I would like to think Kenny appreciated my honesty and we wish him well. He will do a job for someone but that will be up to Kenny."
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