BARRY McLELLAND knows how fickle the football industry can be.

Having been forced to give up his dreams of a professional career after a series of knee injuries, the former Morton youngster turned his hand to dentistry before coming full circle and returning to the beautiful game.

Now he is helping youngsters forge a career on the pitch, while helping others off it as Partick Thistle's Community Trust Director.

His exploits on the training ground have proven successful, with a number of Jags proteges, including Ryan Scully, Stuart Bannigan and Jamie Campbell showing signs of promise as they have worked their way into first-team reckoning under Thistle boss Jackie McNamara.

Youth development has taken on even greater importance of late for the Firhill club and McLelland hopes the future is bright for the Jags' kids.

"This is my first season at 17s and before that I was working with the 19s," McLelland told SportTimes.

"At 19s two years ago, we won the League Cup against Livingston, which was a tremendous achievement.

"From that team, there are four or five boys that have progressed and got contracts so the system is working in bringing players through from youth level to the first team.

"That is the way the system should work. That is always the objective of having Pro-Youth systems in place.

"We are producing players that are getting contracts so that shows that it is working.

"Ian Cameron, who I work with at 17s, is a great guy, I have learned a lot from him. Previously to that, I worked with John Hendrie, who is now at Bolton. It is a great experience."

Away from the pressure of helping kids achieve their dreams, McLelland has been doing his part in the local community.

He has increased the Jags' presence in the city, running coaching courses and working with various good causes to allow kids to learn valuable life skills in association with charities and Glasgow City Council.

The benefits may not have been seen on the Firhill pitch but McLelland is delighted with the progress that has been made by the club in recent months.

He said: "Over the course of the year, we have attained charitable status. It has taken us about four or five months to get that.

"We are now looking at four or five different initiatives –health and wellbeing, grassroots football, educational and vocational activities, after- schools and ladies football.

"We are looking to start up a seven-a-side academic and corporate league in the New Year as well.

"The club have been very supportive. It has taken nearly a year to try and get all these things up and running but they are going well."

The work McLelland has undertaken in recent months has manifested itself into success both on and off the pitch, with footballing achievement taking as much importance as social development.

The Jags are also exploring the possibility of launching a women's team in 2012, with the idea another method of expanding the club's presence as far as possible.

McLelland said: "The first session we ran, we had 27 girls and they were coming from all over to get involved.

"I have had a meeting with the SFA and we are looking to try and form a ladies' team, possibly in March, and entering a league if possible.

"We are looking to get friendlies just now. We'd like to try and get into the Second Division.

"There are going to be major cost factors involved, especially with travel, so it will all depend on budget."