in 1988, lambie was appointed manager for the first time at partick thistle, but a year later returned to hamilton, before going back to partick in 1990. he led the "jags" to promotion to the top flight in 1992 and left in 1995 for his former club falkirk, but quit his post in march 1996. "the herald" wrote in 2002 that "it is odd how, despite lambie playing over 200 games for falkirk, and scoring a decent haul of goals as a defender, he is only remembered for his disastrous managerial reign".