Austria Trip Confirmed

It has been confirmed that the Morton squad will be flying to Austria for a week of pre-season training at the BSFZ National Sports Centre in Obertraun this Tuesday. The trip - organised and paid for by Alistair Donald - will see the club play two friendlies against local opposition.

Obertraun is a village in the Salzkammergut region in upper Austria. The sports complex Irons' squad will visit is one of six national sport and recreation centres in Austria. The complex has three outdoor football pitches, two sports halls (one with weight training equipment), a sauna (with a massage and physiotherapy area), a lecture hall, seminar rooms, a restaurant and sports cafe and five seperate buildings for accomodation.

The trip was confirmed on the club's official website in a news item which has been 'recycled' from a similar one posted on Notts County's official site last summer:

Notts County: Ian McParland has stressed that his Magpies players don't know how lucky they are to have spent a week in Austria at the highly regarding National Sports Centre in Obertraun.

Morton: David Irons has intimated that his players don’t know how lucky they are to be spending next week in Austria at the highly rated National Sports Centre in Obertraun

Notts County: The squad have also been encouraged to make the most of the excellent other fitness-related facilities which are on site.

Morton: Additionally the squad will also be encouraged to make the most of the excellent other fitness related facilities which are on site.

Notts County: Two games have also been played whilst in Austria, allowing McParland to see how his players are shaping up almost three weeks into pre-season training.

Morton: Two games are also scheduled with local teams to allow David to see how the lads are shaping up just a week into their pre-season campaign.

and a direct quote from the managers...

Ian McParland: "There are no distractions for the lads either which means we have been able to concentrate on the football side of things and look after ourselves."

Davie Irons: “there will be no distractions for the lads which means that we will be able to concentrate on our football and just look after ourselves.”

gmfc.net - Pre-season Trip To Austria (23.06.2009)

nottscountyfc.co.uk - Gaffer: The Players Are Lucky (21.07.2008)

Greenock Telegraph - Ton Set For Austria Trip (24.06.2009)

National Sports and Recreation Centres Austria