Archibald understands Erskine's embarrassment at award vote
The midfielder said on social media the ceremony should be scrapped
Alan Archibald says he understands why Chris Erskine is embarrassed by his nomination for the club's in-house player of the year awards.
Erskine called for the ceremony to be scrapped after being one of four players chosen by the club for the award, despite Thistle sitting bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership with five games to go.
The midfielder said on Twitter that he was "genuinely embarrassed to be nominated'' and that "the POTY for the first team should be scrapped''.
Archibald welcomed his honesty and denied the tweet is embarrassing to the club.
"I understand where he is coming from and he's honest enough to say it,'' said Archibald. "The problem is the bigger picture is that these awards are organised a year in advance and it's not done last week when we know we're having a bad season.
"We just have to face up to it and get on with it. We are all having a bad season, it's just one of those things in football.''
He added: "He's honest enough to put them out there and is maybe just embarrassed to be nominated.
"They are an honest group.
"They have never hidden from the season we have had, but the split has given us a lifeline and a chance to get out of that and keep the club in the league.''
With the club one point adrift of Ross County in 11th and five clear of safety, Saturday's encounter against Hamilton - one of the two sides Thistle are looking to reel in alongside Dundee - offers their first chance since the split to reverse a run that sees them without a win in their last 10 games.
Archibald admits they are running out of time but can still save their season, starting with a win at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill against Accies.
"We know the first game of the split is vitally important, and if you can get that win, you can bounce off it and that is our aim,'' he said.
"We know where we are, we know what we have to do. We know what it is like to be chased so we have to make sure we come out of the traps on Saturday ready to try and get three points.
He added: "We have been on a bad run but that is all put to bed, we have to look forward.
"We have five games to try and save our skins and what happened in the previous 20 games doesn't matter, it's Saturday that counts.'