BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Partick | Maxwell completes Thistle switch

Partick Thistle have signed defender Ian Maxwell after he was released by SPL outfit St Mirren last week.

Maxwell, 33, has signed a two-year deal with the Jags and manager Ian McCall said he would bolster his side's push for promotion next season.

"We need some experience to help bring the young players on and experience is something that Ian, both in the First Division and SPL, isn't short of."

McCall was looking to add to his squad following news that Alan Archibald would miss the opening two months of next season through injury.

"Ian's signing is much more than simply covering while Alan is injured," added the Partick manager.

"It's the players that are in form who will keep their places in the team."

Maxwell began his career at Queen's Park before joining Ross County in 1998.

He made 167 appearances for the Victoria Park outfit before moving to St Johnstone and then St Mirren in 2005.

The defender helped Saints gain promotion to the SPL, making 68 appearances for the club - 22 of which were for the first-team this season.

McCall added: "I've absolutely no doubt that he will be able to make a sizeable contribution over the length of his two-year contract."