Ian McCall had been Ayr United manager since 2015

Ian McCall says he wants to "put the red and yellow" back into Partick Thistle after leaving rivals Ayr United to return as manager.

The 54-year-old switches from the side sitting second in the Scottish Championship on goal difference to the one at the bottom of the table.

Thistle dismissed former Scotland defender Gary Caldwell last week after a poor start to the season.

"It's a club that is very dear to me," said McCall.

"It's one that is geared for success and the Premiership. I'm not talking about that right now, in the short term it's just to win football matches.

"But it's a very special club and it's been through a lot in the last couple of years with legends dying and poor results on the pitch at times.

"We are here to put a bit of red and yellow back into Partick Thistle."

Another former Thistle boss, Alan Archibald, returns to Firhill as McCall's assistant less than a year on from being sacked, while ex-Ayr midfielder Neil Scally also joins the staff.

Former Thistle winger McCall had been in charge at Somerset Park since 2015 and led them to the Scottish League One title and promotion two seasons ago before reaching last season's promotion play-offs.

"I left Ayr with a heavy heart," he added.

"I was at Ayr Untied for five years and it was fantastic, but I made it clear that the last time the [Thistle] job was available I'd not take it, whether I'd have got it or not I don't know, because of the man to my right [Archibald, who had just been sacked].

"There is a real emotional pull here."

The Glasgow club said in a website statement: "The club would like to place on record its thanks to Ayr United FC and its chairman, Lachlan Cameron, for the professional manner by which they have handled matters since we first requested permission to talk to Ian."

Thistle had been denied permission by League One club Clyde to speak to their manager Danny Lennon, with the former Firhill midfielder subsequently extending his contract until summer 2022, but were able to hold talks with the man who was manager between 2007 and 2011.

Cameron told BBC Scotland: "Obviously it's disappointing. I didn't want it to happen, nobody did.

"But, as part of [McCall's] contract negotiations for his current contract, part of the deal to keep him was that we agreed between us, if somebody came calling, I'd always give him the opportunity to speak to them - most of them he has turned down, but this one he didn't."