Partick caretaker boss Jimmy Bone (left) and Terry Butcher

Butcher, 48, who was axed by Australian club Sydney FC last month, will join caretaker boss Jimmy Bone on the bench for Saturday's match against Gretna.

Partick sacked manager Dick Campbell on Tuesday, but Butcher told the club's website he does not want the job.

"Can I make it clear I'm not looking for the job as manager," he said.

Bone has been made caretaker boss until the end of the current campaign.

Former England captain Butcher said he was looking forward to training the first-team squad and stressed he was not competing with Bone for the vacant managerial post.

I am only here to help out - I have no hidden agendas whatsoever Terry Butcher

"That would not be the right thing to do with respect to Jimmy and I am only here to help out. I have no hidden agendas whatsoever.

"Now all our energies are focused on Gretna and I can't wait."

Butcher said he was confident his appointment would benefit both parties and revealed he had kept himself up-to-date with the Thistle playing staff.

"The internet is a fantastic tool and it has allowed me the chance to keep up to date with everything that has been going on while I have been away and I have a fair understanding of which players are here and I can't wait to get working with them," said Butcher.

"I will initially be working with the defence as I understand that the goals-against column is high but you defend as a team as well as attack as a team so we will be focusing on all these things over the next few weeks."

Partick are sixth in the First Division, eight points above bottom club Airdrie and have lost four of their last five league matches.