Bathgate Thistle part ways with Paul Jack

Jun 18 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Jags Jack in boss after bad season

BATHGATE Thistle have parted ways with their manager Paul Jack after a difficult campaign.

Jack, who steered the Jags to Super League safety on the final day of the season, was sacked in a late night phone call after the committee agreed to bring in a new boss.

He took over the Bathgate hot-seat in January after Willie Hill announced his retirement. But since Hill, who was also bankrolling the club, stepped down the club struggled.

Jack was promoted from assistant to manager but the Jags found points hard to come by and for a long time they were in bottom spot looking upwards with both feet on the relegation trap door. Bathgate Secretary Syd McAlpine admitted it had been a very difficult season but he paid tribute to the departed boss.

“We had a terrible season,” he conceded.

“No silverware and the gaffer leaving left everyone down.

“We felt it was the right decision to make and we would like to thank Paul and Alan Lawrence, who is leaving as well, for all their efforts since they came here.

“Already we’ve had some of the senior players at the club expressing an interest in the position as boss but we’ll take our time and hopefully make the right decision.”