Low joins Thistle board

Partick Thistle have appointed their first female director in the club's 139-year history.

PR expert Jacqui Low has joined the Jags board and becomes just the third woman to currently hold such a position at a Scottish Premiership club.

Thistle chairman David Beattie said: "As a board, we are always on the lookout for additional skill sets to further strengthen the team. Having got to know her over the last couple of years, Jacqui's clear strategic thinking, business skills and significant board experience elsewhere will prove extremely useful to Thistle. "Her 30 years' communications experience is also invaluable to the club, as she will be working closely with our media and communications department to make sure the great work that the club does reaches the largest number of people possible.

"It was also important to us that we introduced diversity to the board at this club. It's always been an all-male board and that simply does not represent the demographic of our fans. We're working hard to show that football is not the masculine dominated domain that it used to be and that's why we approached Jacqui at the start of the year to join us and bring that different perspective.

"Firhill is an inclusive and welcoming place to come and watch football - I hope this new appointment reinforces that that isn't just talk.''

Low, whose other roles include being executive chairman of Edinburgh-based communications consultancy Indigo, added: "It's an honour to join the board at Thistle.

"I've shadowed the board for the last six months to be sure that this position was the right move for me and the club.

"I wouldn't have accepted the role if I didn't think I could make a difference, or if I thought this was a token gesture, but I certainly like what I have seen so far.

"It's a genuinely exciting club with great ambition and a real drive to succeed. With the recent unveiling of mascot Kingsley, this is a club not afraid to take risks either and I have been impressed by that.

"However, the board is also focused on, and committed to, continuing to build a stable and strong club, allowing the focus to be on what's happening on the pitch, and I am pleased to be able to play my part in that.

"I am also delighted to be the first female member of the board because diversity is what helps organisations grow and develop. I have experience in range of sectors, as well as board skills, and will bring all of that to bear at Thistle. That's what I hope I will be judged on - what I do for the club, no more no less.''