PARTICK THISTLE boss Jackie McNamara today signed a new contract with the Irn-Bru First Division leaders.

The Jags gaffer has transformed the fortunes of the Firhill club since replacing Ian McCall in the dugout last May.

And the 39-year-old has now been rewarded after penning a fresh one-year rolling contract as he looks to guide Thistle back into the SPL.

Chairman David Beattie told SportTimes: "We have enhanced the package for Jackie and the club. He is still on a one-year rolling contract but the terms have changed, they have enhanced for Jackie and for the club.

"I have no doubt that Jackie will go on to bigger and better things.

"He is doing his apprenticeship with us just now if you like and he is doing exactly what he said he would do when we offered him the job.

"He is a total professional and people will start to look at Jackie in the long term.

"He and Simon Donnelly have certainly got all the makings of a great management team.

"It was a bit of a risk but I think it was a risk that is certainly paying dividends for Partick Thistle now.

"One of the things Jackie said just before he signed his contract when we appointed him was that he would leave the club in a better state than he found it and he is keeping his word.

"Jackie has brought a professionalism to the club and a playing culture that we are looking to replicate all the way through the club and into our youth teams.

"It is about his way of playing and his attitude towards the job."

The Jags chairman added: "We would love to win promotion to the SPL. I am always wary about tempting fate in these situations and we know there's still a long way to go.

"The Morton game on Boxing Day is going to be a big game for us but the players have certainly got their eyes on the SPL and so does everyone at the club.

"We have a realistic chance of getting there and it would be great if we could see it through."