WILLIE KINNIBURGH admits he put his family before football after quitting Partick Thistle to join the police.

The defender still had 12 months left on his contract with Jackie McNamara's side, but has opted to leave the Jags to pursue a new career.

Kinniburgh was an integral part of the Thistle side under former boss Ian McCall but injuries deprived him of a chance to impress in McNamara's first year at the helm as the Jags finished sixth in the Irn-Bru First Division this term.

The 27-year-old made 70 appearances for the Jags after joining from Motherwll five years ago.

Kinniburgh said: "I put the application in and didn't think anything of it, but I have gone through the stages and it came to the point where I had a decision to make.

"Scottish football at the moment is going down the way and it is getting more and more difficult to hold down a career.

"I knew I had to plan for the future and I feel this is the right thing to do. I think the police will prove to be a great career for me.

"It is not as if I have a lot of degrees to my name that will allow me to find another job once I have retired from football. I think this is the right thing to do for myself and for my family.

"I thought about playing for another year, but that wasn't an option to be honest.

"I had to look at my situation and I have got to put my family first.

"I am not retiring. I can't start right away, but I can ask for permission to go part-time. That is an option for me in the future but whether I do that I don't know.

"Just now that is not something I am looking at. I have got to get my head down and get studying. I have not been told where I will be posted yet, you don't find out until you are ready to start up and start training."

He added: "It will be another challenge for me and a new chapter in my life. I am a bit nervous but it is something I am looking forward to.

"I really enjoyed my time at Thistle and I will still be around the club, I have got a lot of friends there and I wish them well for the future.

"It is a good club and it is heading in the right direction with Maxi as General Manager and Jackie as the gaffer. They have got big plans for the future and I am sure they will do well."