Partick Thistle manager Mark Wilson faces his former mentor Neil Lennon in the Premiership play-off semi-finals this week.
The Scottish Premiership play-off semi-final first leg between Dunfermline Athletic and Partick Thistle kicks off on Tuesday 12 May 2026 at 19:45 BST at East End Park in Dunfermline. The return fixture takes place at Firhill on Friday. Both matches will be shown live on television.
Partick Thistle boss Mark Wilson rejects any sentimentality ahead of facing Neil Lennon, his former captain and coach at Celtic. Wilson enjoyed his best playing years under Lennon’s leadership, first as captain and later under his management after Tony Mowbray’s departure. He described those experiences as some of the best years of his career and praised Lennon’s high standards and leadership.
Wilson also witnessed Lennon’s rapid rise from reserve coach to rookie manager of one of world football’s most high-pressure clubs.
Wilson acknowledges the influence Lennon had on his own development as a player but insists their roles are now strictly professional. He admitted understanding Lennon’s coaching methods and how the Dunfermline manager elevates players to meet his expectations. Wilson highlighted Lennon’s achievement in guiding Dunfermline, a Championship club, to a Scottish Cup final as a significant accomplishment.
Despite respecting Lennon’s tough competitive approach, Wilson emphasized that nostalgia plays no part in the upcoming fixtures.
Wilson stressed that these matches are purely competitive, with no personal sentiment involved. He stated his job is to coach his team as Lennon’s equal and to find a way to win. The Partick manager wants his side to take a strong position into the second leg by securing a positive result in the first match. He also pointed out that all prior Championship meetings between the sides are irrelevant now that promotion to the Premiership is at stake.
Wilson reflected on Partick Thistle’s transformation since his appointment when the club lacked key positions across the pitch. He described the initial squad as severely depleted, with no goalkeepers, full-backs, or strikers available at the time. Youth players and a handful of centre-halves and wingers formed the core of the early team. Many expected a difficult campaign, yet the side has exceeded expectations and now sits in the play-offs. Wilson aims to build on this momentum regardless of next season’s division.