LOOKING back, it is a wonder why Jacqui Low ever had any doubts.

Her journey from a proposition from chairman David Beattie to the Firhill boardroom has taken several months – the delay a self-imposed one as she observed from afar before shaking hands on a deal – but the passing of time has only heightened the excitement rather than raised questions over the next step in her career.

Low’s appointment as a Partick Thistle director this week was not greeted with the same fanfare as the arrival of another player to Alan Archibald’s squad, but she is a crucial component for a board that have again strengthened their own pool of resources.

Her professional career is impressive and expansive, her association with, and love of, football, life-long.

A former broadcaster, Head of Communications and Research for the Scottish Conservative Party and Special Adviser to the then Secretary of State, Michael Forsyth, Low has accepted many offers to advise and help over the years.

Yet it is the invitation for a place at the Firhill top table that has captured her imagination.

“This is probably the thing that has given me the most pleasure and excitement out of everything I have done in my career,” Low told SportTimes.

“I have done some fantastic and interesting things and been very fortunate. I have been at events where history has been made but this, for me on a personal level, is what I am most proud of.

“I probably started off thinking ‘why me?’, but the longer I shadowed the board and I could see where I would fit in and what I could do, I have got more excited.

“I have a reputation for being fairly cool and laid back, but I haven’t stopped smiling since the announcement was made. I am genuinely excited.”

Having overcome any initial trepidation, Low quickly bought into the Thistle ethos as she saw at close hand the vision for the future Beattie and his fellow-board members have.

She enters a male-dominated environment – at Firhill and football, in general – with enthusiasm, and determined to play her part in success for the Jags and lead her own trail.

“It is uncharted territory for many women and that means it is a double-edged sword,” Low said.

“You can set your own path, which I have done in life so far, but you have to be conscious that in setting that path, I want to do it in a way that others can follow and it encourages others to join in.

“Whilst I am conscious of it, it is not going to be my drive for doing things. I will do things the way I have always done, but I know people will probably watch me more closely than they do the guys on the board.”

The appointment of Low further strengthens the Thistle top table at a time where the club, from the boardroom to the dressing room, is heading in a positive direction.

The Jags will play Premiership football once again next season, while the ThistleWeir Academy continues to grow and thrive as the club bid for a bright future.

It is on-field success that is the ultimate barometer of where Thistle are at any one time, but Low is determined to make her mark off the park.

“The football is, of course, of paramount importance, but the reality is that football is a commercial operation,” she said.

“As a board, if we don’t ensure the club is stable and we run it properly and successfully, we won’t be playing football. That is our responsibility and where I can add value. We don’t get paid for any of this and I hope fans see that as part of the commitment.

“There is a huge amount of passion for the club, a love of the club, and a desire for everyone to do their best for the club. It is not about the individuals and what we can get out of it. We are caretakers of a club that has a great history.

“To use a football phrase, I don’t want to be the one that drops the ball. When I leave, I want people to look and say ‘there has been an improvement’.”

The signs may be promising for Thistle, but work still needs done if the upwards curve is to be maintained and growth continued.

It will come down to Archibald and his players in the coming months as they look to impress once again in their third top-flight campaign.

“We are now established in the Premiership,” Low said. “That is how we have got to look at it and how we are approaching next season. We have got great games to kick us off.

“There will be a great atmosphere and excitement around Firhill, so I am really looking forward to it.”