19/04/2007

Where Are They Now ?

From time to time I'll post about the whereabouts of ex-Morton players if they pop up in the media or at a match.

Stephen Whalen was, for a time, a highly rated Morton youngster. Irvine born Whalen was a striker who first appeared in the Morton team as a sub against Raith Rovers at Cappielow in season 1998-99. He was a decent finisher but was as slow as a week in the jail.
Whalen became a regular starter at a very young age - mainly due to the mismanagement of the club at that time. He scored around 10 goals in his Morton career and subsequently moved onto Livingston and then had loan spells at Alloa and Ayr United. Followed by a permanent switch to Ayr.

None of these spells worked out and asa result Whalen ended up in Ayrshire Junior football where he is currently playing for Irvine Meadow. Meadow sit top of the Super First Division and look to be heading for succesive title wins after a recent 3-0 over Troon - a match in which Whalen scored.
Bryan Slavin is another ex-Ton Player playing in the Ayrshire junior ranks. Slavin's best period at Morton was under Billy Stark. Stark gave him a couple of extended runs in the first team at right back. A decent whole hearted player but someone probably not good enough for senior football. Stark showed his lack of faith when he dropped him for a Scottish Cup quarter-final v Celtic at Cappielow. Stark dropped Slavin - who was a regular in the team at that point - to play midfielder Stevie Aitken in the unfamiliar right-back role.
Slavin currently plays for Auchinleck Talbot and, like Whalen, scored in a recent vicory over Beith.

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