Partick Thistle star Iain Flannigan aiming to make up for lost time at Firhilll

Aug 5 2010 By Fraser Wilson

Iain Flannigan

Click here to watch full interview with Iain Flannigan.

IAIN FLANNIGAN is determined to kick-start his career with Partick Thistle after turning his back on a move to Cyprus to sign at Firhill.

The 22-year-old midfielder agreed a one-year-deal with the Jags last week after leaving Kilmarnock and made his competitive debut in the 1-0 Co-op Cup win at Annan on Saturday.

Flannigan endured a stop-start four years at Killie, during which time he accumulated 25 top team appearances.

But, having seen some of his contemporaries rack up more than 100 games at their respective clubs, the playmaker knew it was time for a fresh start.

He said: "I didn't play as much as I would have liked at Kilmarnock so I'm looking to push on at Thistle.

"I broke into Killie team at 19 but I never really had a stretch of games - maybe three or four at most which is not enough when you are coming into the team.

"When my contract ran out at Rugby Park in the summer I spoke to Ian McCall. He said he wanted me here and it is good to come somewhere where you are wanted.

"Earlier in the summer I could have gone to Cyprus but I didn't feel that was for me at that particular time.

"So I had a wee bit of a wait to see if something would drop and there were a lot of boys in the same position as me in the summer which was a bit uncomfortable. So when I heard Thistle were interested I was more than happy to come and get something sorted.

"I'm 22 now and I have not played as much as I would have liked. You look at other boys my age and they have played 100 - 150 games and that's why I'm coming here I want to get regular football and hopefully we can have a good season and push on up the league."

Flannigan shouldn't take long to find his feet in the Thistle side after spending the majority of pre-season training with the Maryhill men and featuring in friendlies against Queen's Park and Dumbarton.

Although the first team squad is short of numbers, Flannigan reckons there's no lack of ability in the dressing room.

"There's a lot of quality in the side here and competition for places is strong.

"In midfield there's a good mix between the likes of Jackie McNamara, Simon Donnelly, David Rowson and younger guys like Hodgy and Cairney so hopefully we can gel together and prove to be an effective unit."