SPL clubs eye move for Partick Thistle star Paul Cairney as midfielder mulls over new Jags deal

Apr 5 2012 By Fraser Wilson

PARTICK THISTLE ace Paul Cairney has emerged as a summer target for SPL sides Hibs and Aberdeen - but Jags boss Jackie McNamara hasn't given up hope of holding onto the player.

Cairney, who has hit nine goals from midfield this season, is a free agent at the end of the current campaign and has been offered a new deal at Firhill.

But the 24-year-old has so far still to decide on the new terms and his form has not gone unnoticed by clubs in the top tier.

McNamara insists he's had no approach for Cairney but accepts he couldn't stand in his way if he opted to move on.

He said: "We've certainly not given up hope of keeping Paul and he's had the offer of a new contract on the table for a wee while now.

“He wants to assess his options but we need to know one way or another shortly as we want to start planning for next season.

"If an SPL side cam in then it would be hard to stand in his way."

McNamara plans to blood a number of his youth players in the coming weeks as he begins to shape his squad for next season.

He said: "I have been wanting to introduce a couple of the younger players for a while now to see if they can hack it at this level.

"There are a few on the fringes who I would like to look at before the end of the season to see if they can handle the first team arena on a match day."

Meanwhile, Thistle this week launched a fantastic season ticket offer aimed at boosting regular attenders to Firhill next season.

Under the 'Mates Rates' scheme, existing season-ticket holders will receive a 20 per cent discount if they can talk a friend into buying one.

The more mates they bring, the more they gain and any fans who can persuade five mates to sign up will get their books free of charge.