May 1996
Relegated from Premier League after a play-off with Dundee United. Murdo McLeod's side were 40 seconds away from retaining their top-flight status in the second leg at Tannadice when United defender Brian Welsh headed an equaliser, taking the game into extra time, before Owen Coyle grabbed the winner for Billy Kirkwood's men.
May 1997
Finished 6th after a disappointing First Division campaign, resulting in the sacking of Murdo McLeod and assistant Gordon Chisholm, who were replaced by John McVeigh and Peter Hetherston.
December 1997
Faced with massive debts accrued by a combination of a loss of revenue from relegation and constructing the Jackie Husband stand to comply with the Taylor Report, it looked as though Thistle would go bankrupt until the supporters organised a "Save the Jags" campaign, raising pounds-125,000 to keep the club afloat.
May 1998
7,000 Thistle fans watched the club slip into the Second Division after they suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Ayr United on the final day of the season. In the weeks after the game, the management team of McVeigh and Hetherston left the club as part of stringent cutbacks made to try and tackle their perilous financial position.
June 1998
Veteran Tommy Bryce (left) appointed as player/manager.
March 1999
After making no impact in the Second Division, and presiding over one of the most bereft sides in the club's history, Bryce was sacked, paving the way for the return of John Lambie for his third spell as manager.
March 2001
After dominating the division, Thistle clinched promotion with an emphatic 3-0 victory over bottom club Stirling Albion, Swede Peter Lindau scoring a hat-trick.
April 2001
Two weeks later, they sealed the title with a 2-2 draw against Forfar at Station Park, Paul McGrillen's late effort (right) securing the point required. Afterwards, amid jubilant scenes, Lambie led the singing over the tannoy as the club began their resurrection.
May 2002
The rise from the ashes continued as Lambie's men clinched their second title in succession, leading from the start before confirming the title, and promotion back to the top flight, with a victory over St Mirren at Love Street (left).
May 2003
Lambie led the club to 10th place in the Premierleague, on a substantially smaller budget than their rivals, before retiring.
His long-serving assistant Gerry Collins took over as manager with Lambie moving upstairs.
November 2003
After a dismal start to the season, Collins was sacked and replaced by senior players Derek Whyte and Gerry Britton (below).
May 2004
The inexperienced management duo couldn't prevent Thistle finishing bottom of the division. However, with Inverness CT winning the first division, and not having a ground that met the SPL criteria, both clubs were left in limbo as the summer dragged on. Initially, the SPL ruled that a proposal by Inverness to groundshare at Pittodrie was not acceptable, but after an appeal and a second meeting, the league changed their mind, much to Thistle's fury. The Glasgow side launched their own appeal but it was to no avail, consigning them to the First Division.
December 2004
After a promising start, Whyte and Britton were sacked by the title favourites with Thistle adrift in ninth place in the division.
January 2005
Dick Campbell and Jimmy Bone take over and, while an initial good run closes the gap, their form soon falters again.
April 2005
A 4-0 thrashing by St Johnstone left the Jags eight points adrift of nearest challengers Hamilton with three games remaining, and with a substantially poorer goal difference.
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