Lawless, Miller and Frans to decide on Partick Thistle future

Partick Thistle expect contract decisions from Steven Lawless, Freddie Frans and Gary Miller before the end of the week, according to Jags managing director Ian Maxwell.

The out-of-contract trio have been offered new deals but the Firhill club need to know soon who will be available to boss Alan Archibald as the squad returns to training on June 20 to prepare for the start of the new season which begins in mid-July with the Betfred League Cup.

"We are talking to them and I would think we will have decisions from them all by the end of this week," said Maxwell on a day that 17-year-old left-back James Penrice, who made his first-team debut at the end of the season, agreed a one-year extension to his contract that will see him remain at the club until 2018.

"They have all been made offers and they are thinking things over.

"Obviously we are going to get to the point where we need to know one way or the other.

"We would like to keep them all and hopefully we can sort something out.

"And because of the League Cup this season the boys are back in on the 20th of June so there is not long to go.

"We need to give ourselves time to see what else is out there if they are not going to stay but hopefully they will do and we can continue from last season."

Maxwell was speaking at Firhill 24 hours after the Thistle Weir youth academy received additional funding from lottery winners Colin and Christine Weir, who initially put up £750,000 to start the project.

The former Partick Thistle defender expressed his gratitude for the "incredible" gesture but is looking in time to have the academy self-sustaining.

He said: "We are not sitting saying we will keep on asking Colin and Chris because it is not about that. That's not the way we want to do it.

"They are happy to help for the time being and how long that continues is ultimately up to them but we want to get to the point where we are not relying on it and are self-sustaining.

"Hamilton and Falkirk and clubs like that seem to be able get players into the first team and play 100 games before they are 18 and sell them on down south.

"And you could argue Dundee United have done well bringing players through and selling them on. Queen's Park have done well although they obviously don't get a transfer fee as they are amateur, but they have a good reputation in bringing players on.

"The clubs that are buying them are obviously happy with that and it makes sense, that is the model we need to look to. Everyone needs to do it."