Peter McKenzie, You're Having A Laugh

Allan Moore will not be the next Morton manager according to reports in today's Daily Record, Evening Times and Greenock Telegraph.

The move collapsed because Stirling Albion chairman Peter McKenzie (pictured, left) was asking for £180,000 in compensation. This is, in my opinion, an absolutely ridiculous amount of money for a second division club to be asking for for their part-time manager. Morton chairman Douglas Rae told the Tele's Roger Graham that McKenzie's compensation demands had killed the deal:

The compensation wanted by Stirling has put him out of the running. That deal is finished now. Peter McKenzie was wanting £180,000 and we were prepared to offer £20-30,000. They then said they would let him go for £160,000. We could get about seven players for a year at £500 per week for that sort of money.I'm disappointed, but it's not the end of the world.

Meanwhile Moore appears to be blaming Morton and his own chairman's over-the-top valuation. In the Tele' he is quoted as saying: "To be honest I think what Stirling were asking for was a bit over the top." while he told the Record's Gordon Parks of his anger at the role Morton played in the deal collapsing:

Morton should have come to an agreement on compensation when they approached Stirling to speak with me. It's unacceptable to have been asked to go through the motions when they were not prepared to meet the fee my club were asking for. That should all have been settled before I had to endure the speculation. It's been an upsetting time for my family and my team have taken their eye off the ball.

Most reports suggest that Rae is now likely to turn to Dundalk's Northern Irish manager Sean Connor. Connor was only interviewed on Monday but looks to have impressed to such an extent that he will be appointed manager sometime next week with James Grady and Allan McManus remaining in charge for Saturday's trip up north to Inverness. In today's Evening Times Bert Mitchell writes:

Morton's hopes of unveiling Dundalk gaffer Sean Connor as their new boss appear to have stalled. SportTimes understands Ton chairman Douglas Rae had hoped to make an announcement on the 42-year-old Belfast-born gaffer's appointment today. However, the Cappielow chief, although unavailable for comment, is understood to have decided to hold back on making an announcement. As such, it looks like caretaker duo James Grady and Allan McManus could still be in charge for the trip to Inverness on Saturday.

Connor, if appointed, would be a surprise choice as Rae had stated on the club's official website that he would like the new man to be someone with knowledge of lower league football in Scotland: "Applications will be welcomed from suitably qualified Managers who have a sound, current knowledge of the S.F.L." He also told the Tele's Roger Graham the same thing: "We won't be bringing anyone from places such as the Faroes or Africa. As I have said, we would ideally want someone who knows the SFL and has been over the course before."

If Connor is to be given the job it looks like James Grady will be given a non-playing role; possibly as player/assistant manager or player/coach. The Record claims that Connor's current assistant, former Celtic and Aberdeen winger Joe Miller, will not follow his manager to Cappielow.

The appointment of an (Northern) Irishman with no experience of Scottish football is a big risk - as Dunfermline found out with Stephen Kenny. Let's hope that it turns out to be a refreshing look outside the box rather than another disastrous managerial appointment that will cost Rae dear a year down the line.

Daily Record - Exclusive: Morton Turn To Connor As Moore Blasts Club Over Compensation Deal (29.10.2009)

Evening Times - Ton Hold Back On Naming New Manager (29.10.2009)

Greenock Telegraph - Moore Ruled Out (29.10.2009)

Greenock Telegraph - No Rush Says Rae (03.10.2009)

gmfc.net - Press Release (21.09.2009)