SFL Focus: Firhill blues as McCall's departure seems to have muddied waters at Falkirk

Even before Partick Thistle formally announced the departure of manager Ian McCall yesterday, the rumours had started that he was destined to succeed Steven Pressley at Falkirk.

Pressley remains in office, but McCall's sudden availability presents an interesting scenario. Some members of the Partick dressing room, for what that is worth, reckon McCall is Falkirk-bound.

Falkirk's supporters were angered when McCall departed their club for Dundee United; the former Rangers player had vowed to remain before moving to Tannadice in January of 2003.

Nonetheless, the success enjoyed by McCall at Falkirk had precipitated that transfer in the first place, and means he is still held in high regard by many people there.

Senior Thistle figures maintain McCall offered them no hint that a move to another First Division club was imminent during talks this week. Only on Thursday, one board member said last night, was the possibility of McCall joining Falkirk even raised.

If such a move does come to pass, there is unlikely to be any aggravation as a consequence. McCall's construction of a Thistle squad - one which had only four signed players when he arrived only weeks before the start of the 2007/8 season - was notable.

The work put in by the manager to implement a structured youth and scouting system was also recognised by McCall's employers. David Beattie, Thistle's interim chairman, said in a statement: "Personally I'd like to thank Ian for his contribution to the club. He is popular with the supporters, directors and the players, and we'll miss him."

Yet 46-year-old McCall had become increasingly frustrated by budgetary constraints in Glasgow's West End. Thistle's main ambition is to retain full-time status but that has been endangered again by recent home attendances which have numbered just 1,142, 1,806 and 1,754.

The dipping of those crowds to below 2,000 is of particular concern to Thistle's directors. The blunt truth is that McCall was never fully embraced by sections of the Thistle support.

Still, it remains a rarity in this age for football managers to resign without the possibility of employment elsewhere. Albeit McCall was one of the longest-serving managers in Scottish football, others such as John Hughes and Gus MacPherson have struggled to find employment after leaving clubs in a higher position than Thistle.

The other key complication to any Falkirk unveiling for McCall is, of course, that Pressley remains in office. The former Scotland defender has endured a rough time from supporters recently and the odds are stacked against his contract, which expires at the end of this season, being extended.

However, it would seem odd timing for the Falkirk board to dispense with Pressley's services now unless they hold the hope that a dug-out change would breathe fresh life into Falkirk's promotion push.

Thistle's path until the end of the season is straightforward, with Jackie McNamara as caretaker manager. Ian Cameron and Simon Donnelly will assist the former Celtic captain.

MacPherson, who took St Mirren out of the First Division, will be among those linked with the post, but McNamara at least has five games through which to prove his credentials.

The position of Falkirk and Pressley in the short to medium term is less clear cut.

Whether or not McCall plays a part in this scenario will become clear in the not-too distant future.