PARTICK Thistle have completed the signings of Kyle Turner and Ross MacIver after the pair were released by Dunfermline and Motherwell respectively as their contracts expired.
Turner, 23, spent the second half of last season on loan in League One with Airdrieonians, scoring once and providing two assists in 14 games. With the Pars in the first half of the campaign, the playmaker racked up 19 appearances with a return of one goal and three assists.
Thistle manager Ian McCall told the club’s website he was delighted to get the deal over the line, adding that Turner’s experience in the lower leagues will prove invaluable for next season’s tilt at back-to-back promotions.
“We’re delighted to be able to welcome Kyle to the club,” he said. He’s a fantastic player who had no shortage of interest in him this summer from teams in both the Championship and Premiership, so we’re very pleased he’s chosen to come to Firhill.
“For a young player of 23 he’s got plenty of first team games under his belt and we’re really excited about what he’s going to bring to our team. Having played so many games in the lower leagues, he’s developed that toughness you need for the Championship but he’s also got exceptional quality that allows him to get into the forward areas to create and score goals.”
READ MORE: Ian McCall sets ambitious target for Partick Thistle's Championship tilt
MacIver, meanwhile, moves to Firhill on a permanent basis after joining Thistle on loan from Motherwell earlier this year and featuring sporadically during the Jags’ late surge to the League One title.
The 22-year-old centre-forward made eight appearances during the run-in, setting up two goals for his team-mates and twice getting on the scoresheet himself, with McCall insisting that the best is yet to come from the striker.
He said: “We’re really pleased to get Ross on board for the upcoming season. He came in on loan in March and did everything we asked of him and more. He very quickly integrated into the squad and played his part in our excellent end to the season.
“He’s a very hard worker and has a great aerial presence too. Everyone was delighted for him when he got his first couple of goals for the Club and we’re sure there’s plenty more to come from him.”
Meanwhile, the Jags were boosted further as midfielder Shea Gordon and full-back Richard Foster penned one-year contract extensions in Glasgow’s west end.
Former Aberdeen and Rangers defender Foster, who excelled at left-back after the lower leagues returned to action in March, admitted that he feels at home at Firhill – adding that he wasn’t concerned after watching Stuart Bannigan, Brian Graham and Ross Docherty all sign new contracts recently.
“There were a lot of factors,” he said. “The manager was a big factor, our relationship, the success we had last season and the group of players here.
“With all that combined – it was just semantics really. It was a no-brainer. It’s probably only taken as long because the manager’s got all the important players signed up first!
“I was never looking to go anywhere else. I’m happy here and I get on really well with the players and the manager.”
McCall added that the deal for Gordon, the Northern Irish midfielder, was just reward for the crucial role he played as key members of the Thistle squad suffered injuries throughout the season.
“Shea was one of the unsung heroes of our season last year,” he explained. “He played a part in nearly every game for us and played a very important role at a vital time of the season too.
“When Ross Docherty was missing just after the break and when Stuart Bannigan missed games during the split, Shea’s level of performance was excellent and helped us towards some key wins. We’re pleased to be able to get him back for next season.”
READ MORE: Ian McCall open to Old Firm loans as Thistle boss ponders what to do with James Lyon
MacIver and Turner are the second and third permanent signings by Thistle this summer after former Dundee and Queen of the South left-back Kevin Holt joined on a two-year deal last week. McCall has previously admitted that he has sounded out Queens legend Stephen Dobbie over a potential move while the Jags have also been linked with an approach for former Livingston striker Scott Robinson, who has released by the West Lothian outfit.
Talks remain ongoing to re-sign Scott Tiffoney on a permanent contract after the 22-year-old winger sparkled during his loan stint at Thistle last season. Livingston have offered terms, meaning that a training development fee will have to be negotiated, but Herald and Times Sport understands Thistle are close to finalising an agreement.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here