Dundee United-bound Chris Erskine has set his sights on becoming a success at Tannadice after taking his farewell bow at Firhill at the weekend.
Erskine has played a pivotal part in Partick’s promotion to the SPL this season and deservedly took plaudits from Thistle supporters celebrating their title win on Saturday following his last home appearance for the club.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who has chipped in with 14 goals for the Jags this term, still has a game away to Dumbarton to play this weekend, but Erskine already has one eye on pastures new after signing a pre-contract agreement with Dundee United.
It’s a long way from his years with junior outfit Kilbirnie Ladeside, although he revealed he can’t wait to link up again with United management duo Jackie McNamara and Simon Donnelly, two men he thanks for his rise to Scotland’s top league.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge at United,” Erskine said.
“Obviously it was a hard decision to leave, I’ve had four years at Thistle and I’ve loved every second of it. They took me from junior football and gave me a chance and it’s something that I’ll never forget.
“I felt it was right for me to move on and try and further my career and I think that’s what I’m going to do.
“Jackie and Simon are obviously up there and I really enjoyed working with them at Partick. They probably got the best out of me so teaming up with them again is going to be good.”
Of course, Erskine won’t be making the move from Firhill alone and believes team-mate Paul Paton’s decision to move to United will make settling in at Tannadice a whole lot easier.
He said: “It is nice to have someone else to go up with.
“I’m quite a shy guy at the best of times so going into a dressing room where you don’t know anyone isn’t very nice. But I think having Paul there, he can take most of the stick!”
Erskine said a few goodbyes at Firhill on Saturday after the Jags’ 3-3 draw with Dunfermline and admitted it had been an emotional afternoon.
However, he has no regrets about swapping one SPL team for another next season.
“It was tinged with sadness even before the game I was thinking about it, that it would be the last time I was pulling on a Partick Thistle jersey,” he continued.
“I don’t think there’s a better way to bow out than to lift a trophy in front of home fans, and hopefully I’ll be remembered for good times at Partick.
“I’ve already been warned that I’ll be getting kicked when I come back but I’ve loved my time at Partick and every season has been brilliant.
“It’s a real family club, a really together club, and I’ll definitely miss the place, but I just felt it was time to move on.”