PARTICK Thistle have completed the signing of midfielder Hugh Murray.

And the Jags hope to continue their signing spree, with more new arrivals expected before the end of the week.

The capture of former St Mirren star Murray is the latest bit of business manager Jackie McNamara has completed as he builds his squad for a shot at the Irn-Bru First Division title next season.

The midfielder made 467 appearances in a 15-year Paisley career but was released at the end of the Scottish Premier League season after being deemed surplus to requirements by Buddies boss Danny Lennon.

He has penned a one-year deal at Firhill, with the option of another year, and McNamara is delighted to have the Saints legend on board.

He said: "Hugh Murray will bring great experience to the squad but more importantly, experience of winning the First Division.

"It's important to have a really strong spine to the team and Hugh helps provide that as well as helping the younger members of the squad."

With Murray now on board, McNamara will turn his attentions to other players on his summer shopping list as he attempts to conduct his transfer business sooner rather than later.

The Jags finished a frustrating campaign sixth in our second tier this time out, with McNamara eager to haul his side into title contention in his second season in the dugout.

He has already put plans in place for pre- season, with the Firhill outfit set to return to the Catterick Garrison of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in Yorkshire next month as the Thistle boss gets set to put his players through their paces.

The Jags have still to finalise their pre-season fixture schedule but McNamara is keen to return to action.

He said: "The players will be back in on June 25 and ready to go. We'll have a week up here and then head down to the army barracks in Catterick again. That will be good for team bonding.

"Last year I think we got things a little wrong. We went down there during our first week of pre-season training rather than getting a week's worth of work behind us before going down, we'll do it differently this time.

"We're trying to arrange a game on our way back on July 7."