PARTICK Thistle have confirmed that Alan Archibald will remain as manager next season as they look to bounce back from relegation to the Championship.

The 40-year-old's future was in doubt after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Livingston in the play-off final on Sunday ensured the Jags' would drop out of the Ladbrokes Premiership. 

Chairman David Beattie said in a statement on Wednesday that Archibald will be staying on at Firhill as the club target an immediate return to the top-flight.

"While we take hard lessons from this season on a number of fronts, our focus is now on getting back to the Premiership by this time next year," he said.

"Learning from other clubs before us, it is clear that slashing budgets is a false economy.

"For the Club to succeed in the Championship and remain prepared for that return to top flight football, we need to have a competitive budget that will fully match our aspirations. Because of financial prudence in recent years, we are in a position to provide that.

“On the playing side the team needs to be rebuilt, effectively from scratch, and there is money in the budget to do that.

"In considering the best person to help us achieve our objectives, it is our considered opinion that Alan Archibald is still the best man to be the Thistle manager.

“Alan steered the Club to Premiership promotion and kept us there for five seasons, including a top six finish, a feat not achieved by any other Thistle manager in at least 25 years.

"His honesty in admitting that mistakes were made last season is the mark of a man of integrity and his commitment to this Club has never been in doubt. He’s an intelligent manager, who knows Thistle and still has a passion for it.

"As a young manager, he remains well-regarded in the footballing world. All of these things were factors in our decision. But, most importantly, Alan indicated in the strongest terms that he wanted the opportunity to put right what has happened, not for him personally, but for the sake of the Club. We believe he can do it and that he deserves that chance.

“So the challenge we have set Alan is to rebuild the team with the aim of one season in the Championship then back to the Premiership. We have also agreed that we must return to playing football like Partick Thistle – we can’t be anyone else.

“There will undoubtedly be those who feel we are being naïve or lacking in ambition in making this decision. We are neither. It is our job to act in the best interests of this Club – we believe keeping Alan Archibald falls under that heading. The Board has faith and confidence in him and his ability to do the job in hand.

“The rebuilding of the team got underway on Monday. Further news on this will be announced by the end of this week."

Archibald has been with Thistle for five years and led the club to a top-six finish last season.

However, a disappointing 2017/18 campaign saw them finish in 11th place before losing against Livingston in the play-off final.