.He told the Daily Record: "I've won promotion out of this league four times before and I'd love to do it for a fifth with Partick Thistle. But I know there is a different pressure if I didn't do it at Brechin compared to where I am now. If we don't go up the fans will be after my head. That doesn't worry me. I'm just excited about this season and the challenge ahead.
"It's not going to be easy. Gretna will be dangerous because they have the best players. You only have to look at players like David Bingham and Kenny Deuchar to see what we are up against. Morton also have money behind them and put together a great package for Derek Lilley and spent £100,000 on Chris Templeman. We can't do that but the expectation here is far higher than anywhere else."
"Myself and Jimmy Bone will have our boys well prepared. There have been some serious decisions made because we were relegated. We have put 19 players out and done away with the youth set-up because we couldn't afford it.
"But what I want more than anything else is winners and boys who want to play for me and this great football club. I want to build a hungry team who will fight for Partick Thistle. I will have a squad of 22 and for a club like Partick Thistle that should be enough.
"I have signed players I think are better than the ones who were here. Marc Smyth is a smashing player. I have actively tried to get him for a while now. We all know what Ricky Gillies can do. I think I will get that wee bit extra out of him, although a few managers have said that. Jimmy Gibson has come to us highly recommended. He is a bit like the Tasmanian Devil. He was offered more money elsewhere but he came to me. I love that.
"And I've signed George Rowe - a magnificent guy. He is 38 years old but has a willingness and appetite for the game that I love. If he keeps free of injury he will be a great signing for us. I'll try to bring another two or three in and the chairman has been great. There are still loan deals to be done and I'm sure the chairman would help me if I went to him.
"I'm under no illusions about what we need to do. There are clubs bigger than ourselves all over Britain who are in the lower leagues. I'm trying to build a football club which can get back on its feet again. I can't wait for it all to start."