New Partick Thistle stopper Ian Maxwell believes the Firhill side are set-up for promotion just like former club St Mirren.

As revealed in yesterday's Times, Maxy became the second of manager Ian McCall's close season signings when he penned a two-year deal, following Queen's Park full-back Paul Paton's arrival on Friday.

And the left-sided player, who joined the Buddies at the start of their Division One title-winning campaign in 2005/2006, believes the portents for Partick promotion are there for all to see.

The 33-year-old said: "I am delighted to have signed and have a fresh challenge to get my teeth into and really I can't wait to get started. I " know that may sound a bit funny given I have just left St Mirren and they haven't finished their season, but that is the way I feel about it.

"There are a lot of similarities between Thistle and St Mirren when I joined them in 2005. Ian McCall has been here for a year and has put his own stamp on the team and the squad and it was the same with Gus MacPherson at St Mirren.

"The next step is to make a push for the First Division title.

"At St Mirren we were like Thistle and not the biggest payers or spenders in the league, but the manager brought in players shrewdly and it worked and we went up.

"So it is not all about money and I don't think you have to look hard to see the similarities between Thistle right now and St Mirren three seasons back."

But Maxwell admitted that he had been both disappointed and surprised by Saints boss Gus MacPherson's decision not to hand him a fresh one-year deal at Love Street He said: "I had an operation at the start of the season and when I came back I had one reserve game.

"Then Gus MacPherson put me back in the first team and I have been in ever since.

"I felt a bit disappointed, but that is the way it goes in football. Obviously the manager feels he wants to take the club onto another level and needs to bring in other players to do so."

But the former Queen's Park, Ross County and St Johnstone stopper has no doubt about his ability to do a job for the Jags next term.

Maxy rapped: "If you can get into a position in your head and read the game well then you are going to be there nice and early on the park itself.

"I have played at the back for long enough now that I know exactly what I am doing. At 33, that is what you'd expect from a defender.

"At St Mirren I have played left-back for the last two years, but I can play left-sided centre-back or left of a five. If it is on the left flank I can take care of it.

"So hopefully I will give Ian McCall and Partick some options at the back as well as a wealth of experience."