A VISIBLY emotional Ian McCall revealed his pride in his Partick Thistle players as the Jags swept aside Gary Holt’s Falkirk 5-0 to seal the League One title in emphatic fashion.

Given the club’s contentious relegation to the third tier last summer when the previous campaign was brought to a shuddering halt, there was a touch of redemption around Thistle’s success this term – even if McCall stopped short of mentioning last season’s off-field civil war.

For the 56-year-old, though, getting the Jags back in the second tier was always the primary goal this season – with the Thistle boss adding that last night’s victory was a particularly sweet one in the McCall household.

“It was some way to win a championship,” he said. “I think since we came back we’ve won seven and drawn four. We’ve got a real potent threat going forward.

“I’m just delighted as we played really well to win it.

“Everyone who’s met me away from football knows how I’ve been feeling but isn’t the time to talk about it.

“I’m just delighted for [chairman] Jacqui [Low] and all our supporters.

“I just said there it’s not the Scottish Cup and it’s not the League Cup in ’21 and ’71, but it’s trophy for us.

“I’m very proud of the players and it’s a good birthday present for my mum Emma who’s 87 today.

“There’s a lot of things that have happened but I don’t think now is the time to talk about it.

“The last four home games we’ve won, I think we’ve scored 15 goals and not lost a goal so we’ve done well.”