Jags Search For New Kingsley

4 July 2016, 08:45 | Updated: 4 July 2016, 08:48

Football chiefs are looking for a fan to step into the shoes of a "scary'' club mascot who caused a global stir when he was introduced last year.

Spiky yellow character Kingsley, mascot of Ladbrokes Premiership outfit Partick Thistle, grabbed headlines across the world on his unveiling in June 2015.

The Glasgow club said they were contacted by CNN and Time magazine as well as featuring in news stories in Australia, Cyprus and New Zealand after Kingsley went viral on social media.

Officials at Thistle are now looking for someone to step into the suit of the "mono-browed, dentist-deprived ray of sunshine that is Kingsley'', who was designed by 2013 Turner Prize nominee David Shrigley.

Duties for the successful candidate - who must be between 5ft 8ins and 6ft 2ins tall - would include being the main focus at games, rubbing shoulders with celebrities and heading up an army of Jags fans.

Ian Maxwell, Partick Thistle managing director, said: "We've decided to turn to our fans to find our next Kingsley.

"We want to see passion, creative thinking and ideas that are a bit out there, just like the mascot should be.

"We have exciting plans for Kingsley next season that we hope will help keep the momentum around the club moving in the right direction.

"Kingsley is the face of the club and we can't wait to find the right person to make sure he remains the centre of attention, not only at Partick Thistle but also within Scottish football as a whole.''

Employment benefits include receiving a 2016/17 club season ticket, opportunities to travel the country and meeting celebrities like David Hasselhoff and Rachel Riley.

Candidates can apply by submitting a short video, no more than two minutes long, along with a CV and covering letter to iamkingsley@ptfc.co.uk explaining why they deserve to become the next Kingsley, by July 11.

The winner will be unveiled in the run-up to the club's opening home fixture in the Betfred Cup against Queen of the South on July 23.