ALAN ARCHIBALD will this week start putting his plans in place for next season after Partick Thistle secured their Premiership safety on Saturday.

 

The Jags continued their impressive recent run with a 3-0 triumph over St Mirren at Firhill to ensure they cannot be dragged into the top flight play-off zone this term.

With just three games left this season, Thistle are twelve points clear of eleventh-placed Motherwell and have their sights firmly set on seventh as they gear up for the trip to Hamilton this weekend.

As well as preparing his side for the New Douglas Park clash, Archibald will also turn his attentions elsewhere in the coming days as he considers his options for the new campaign.

Talks with his out of contract stars have been on the backburner in recent weeks while Thistle were still not mathematically sure of their top flight berth but discussions are now set to start once again as the Firhill boss looks to retain some of his key men.

There are currently twelve Jags stars who are free to talk to other clubs about a switch this summer, including a handful who have played a significant part in keeping the club in the Premiership for a second successive season.

Right-back Stephen O'Donnell, who was a target for Championship side Blackpool in January, is likely to be the most high-profile departure from Firhill and will have options north and south of the border during the close season while Scott Fox, Conrad Balatoni, Abdul Osman, Steven Lawless, James Craigen, Christie Elliott and Kallum Higginbotham are also out of contract.

Player/coach Paul Gallacher and captain Sean Welsh, who has endured another injury-hit season, are the other two experienced squad members in the final weeks of their deals while youngsters Dale Keenan and Chris Duggan complete the Firhill dozen.

The loan deals for Callum Booth and Lyle Taylor will come to an end this month and Archibald will now start his wheeling and dealing as he attempts to fend off interest in his key men and look for the additions required to help Thistle progress in their third Premiership campaign.