Partick Thistle Football Club

Striker Mark Roberts, who had previously been told he was free to speak to other clubs, has been released from his contract at Firhill and is now a free agent.

Mark, a hugely popular figure in and around the Club, leaves Firhill with the warmest of wishes for the future and leaves us with some tremendous memories.

Mark joined Thistle from tomorrow's opponents Airdrie United in August 2005 and after netting a double in his debut against Dumbarton Mark finished his first season as a Partick Thistle player with 22 goals, the highest tally from a Thistle player since Maurice Johnston some 23 years earlier.

Included in that tally of 22 goals were no fewer than four goals against SPL opposition during Thistle's run to the Scottish quarter-final and another four goals during the play-off fixtures that saw Thistle promoted back to the First Division.

The following season Mark was again Thistle's leading goal scorer and was nominated for the SPFA's First Division Player's Player of the Year.

In total Mark pulled on a Thistle jersey on 132 occasions and scored a total of 47 goals. The last of which coming against Queen's Park on the opening day of this season.

Speaking on January 19^th manager Ian McCall had this to say about Roberts;

"Mark Roberts has been a tremendous servant to Partick Thistle and the Club owe him a massive debt of gratitude for his contribution to Thistle in his years at Firhill."

Mark has been reported to be signing for Second Division Ayr United but at present www.ptfc.co.uk understands that no paperwork has yet been completed on a move to the Somerset Park.

Mark has also been joined in leaving Firhill by Pedram Ardalany. Pedram, although clearly a talented player, has been unable to break into manager Ian McCall's first team plans and it is thought best for the player to restart his career elsewhere. In his time at Firhill Pedram made one substitute appearance in the Thistle first team in a fixture with Stirling Albion towards the tail end of last season.

A dedicated, hard working professional Pedram leaves Firhill with the best wishes of all associated with Partick Thistle and we hope that he remains a frequent visitor to Firhill.