ALAN ARCHIBALD admits the transfer window has been tough as he bids to bolster his Partick Thistle ranks on deadline day.

The Jags boss had made four signings so far this month as Lyle Taylor and Chris Erskine have arrived on loan, Lee Mair has penned a short-term deal from St Mirren and Gary Fraser completed a permanent switch from Bolton.

And today it emerged Archie had completed loan deals for midfield duo George Moncur, who joins from West Ham, and Prince Buaben, who arrives from Carlisle.

Heading out of Firhill is Ross Forbes after the midfielder had his contract cancelled by mutual consent this morning.

The Jags boss has missed out on players this month and he admits it has been hard work to bring the stars he wants to Firhill.

Archibald said: "We started off so well getting Lyle in. It was a great bit of business to get him in early and get it done.

"It has been a lot harder to be honest. But I am not surprised.

"I was confident, because we got Lyle done so quickly, that we could get a couple more like that. But it has been very tough.

"All the clubs at the bottom end of the league are going for the same players.

"Every time you talk to someone, they have spoken to the same clubs."

Midfielder Mark Kerr quit the club when he left by mutual consent yesterday after making just four appearances so far this term, with Forbes following him today.

Hugh Murray and Mark McGuigan have returned to Dumbarton and Albion Rovers respectively while John Baird has joined Raith.

Archibald said: "John came to me between Christmas and New Year. He wasn't playing that much and he wanted to get out and play football.

"I said I would be happy to let him go out on loan and he asked if something permanent was available could he go. I said we would talk about it and it came up."