Partick Thistle's Steven Lawless believes he has improved as a person and a player since his ban for violating gambling rules.

The forward was handed a two-match suspension for betting on 513 matches between December 2012 and March 2015.

Lawless thinks the episode has made him a better player as a result, underlining Partick Thistle's support throughout.

"They stuck by me," he said. "I already had a contract offer there when it all came out, but it would have been easy for them to pull it away.

"But the gaffer stuck by me and was really supportive. He has been brilliant. He stuck by me when it would have been easier to let me go and look to other players.

"When something like that happens you just need to sit back and take things in a little bit, and just grow and learn from it.

"It's probably made me a better man and a better player.

"It's one of those things you don't really want to deal with in your career, so hopefully that's in the past now and we can move forward.

"As long as I'm doing well on the park I'm sure it will be forgotten about."

Lawless is out of contract at Firhil at the end of the season, and could leave Partick Thistle with a number of clubs interested in him. But the 24-year-old is keeping his options open

Lawless said: "This is a familiar situation for me, I quite like the one-year deals. Most seasons I am out of contract.

"It has not really affected me over the last couple of years so I don't think it will this year.

"Nothing is set in stone. I have offers there but I haven't signed anything yet.

"It is good to have options, that takes a little bit of pressure off you when you are trying to perform but it will take nothing away from the performances for Thistle."