Allan Moore Would Have Loved To Manage Morton...

... but the opportunity to do so came about at the wrong time.

In an interview with the Greenock Telegraph's Chris Fitzgerald Stirling Albion manager - and former Morton player (12 starts, 6 subs appearances, 1 goal in season 2001/02) - Allan Moore revealed that he would have loved to have managed a full-time team like Morton but that he didn't apply for the job because it came up at the wrong time.

With Morton in a direct relegation battle with his current team Moore felt that his loyalty to Albion and his chairman Peter Mackenzie meant that moving to Morton would be a betrayal.

Moore is quoted as saying: “Morton’s a big club with a massive fan base and they play the kind of football I like — good passing and flowing football. To manage them would be something I’d love to do. However, the job came up at the wrong time for me. I’ve a loyalty to Stirling Albion, to keep them in this league. I wouldn’t do that to my chairman. He knows I’d like a full time management job, but with where we are and where Morton are, I just couldn’t do it to him or the club. I didn’t apply.”

Read the full article here: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=20281

Moore's best performance for Morton: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_2/1564897.stm

Ritchie Receives Golden Boot - From Morton Fans

Morton legend Andy Ritchie was presented with a golden boot by Morton fans at a surprise 52nd birthday party in the Spinnaker Hotel on Saturday night.

The boot - inscribed with the words 'King Of Cappielow Park' - was presented to Andy by journalist John Riddle (pictured, left) who is currently in the process of writing a Biography on the Idle Idol's football career.

According to Russell Steele's article in the Greenock Telegraph the author decided to present Ritchie with the boot to commemorate the Silver Adidas Boot he won in 1979 as a result of finishing 2nd top scorer in Europe which he had sold to a Morton supporting multi-millionaire.

Riddle said: “When I was writing my book, I wanted a photo of him with his player of the year trophy and an Adidas Silver Boot he received in 1979. Andy had neither, having sold them to a multi-millionaire Morton fan many years ago. I decided his birthday should be celebrated in style and managed to get hold of a replica golden boot — because he should actually have won that anyway.”

Coincidentally, Ritchie was also mentioned in today's Scottish Sun. Former Celtic and Scotland legend Billy McNeill talks about great free-kick takers - concluding that Nakamura was the best of them all.

On Ritchie McNeill says: "One player I particularly admired was [Andy] Ritchie because he had such a deft touch from set-pieces. Namakura has a bit of what each of those players [Davie Provan, Murdo MacLeod and Ritche] had. But I honestly don't think any of them had Naka's all round expertise."

Read the full Tele' article here: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=1&id=20272

New Ton Captain Would Like To Stay At Cappielow

Barry Smith replaced Stewart Greacen as Morton Captain on Saturday and told the Greenock Telegraph's Roger Graham that he feels priveleged to do so: “It’s an absolute privilege to be asked to captain the side, but I think, basically, it’s because I’m the most experienced player here. I’m an old head in a very young team. I can talk the players through a game and help keep them composed.”

Smith was also interviewed for the official matchday programmes regular 'An Interview With...' article on Saturday. In the interview he told Andrew Bowman that he'd "love to sign a longer term deal" at Cappielow. He says it is a possibility but it is out with his power.

He adds that he can see himself playing for a number of seasons yet and mentions that in 5 years time he will be coaching in the Quick-Fire questions.

I'd love Smith to stay on at Cappielow. He's an old head who adds composure and know-how on the pitch and experience and professionalism in the dressing room. I'd like to see him to sign a new contract as a player / coach - be that helping out with the first team squad or managing and coaching one of the youth teams. Smith has a wealth of expereience we could use at Morton and that we'd be daft to let go when he's willing to stay beyond his loan spell from Valur.

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=20229

Rae Aims For SPL

In an interview with the Scotsman's Ewan Murray Morton chairman Douglas Rae says that if we stay in the 1st division this season we will attempt to push for the top of the 1st division and the SPL next season.

Rae said: "Our initial aim was to remain in the First Division this year, and look next season at what would be needed to push near the top of the table. Then, we want to make a real effort to get back to the top division. A club such as ours cannot possibly break even without playing in the SPL."

The hard part will be staying in the 1st division this season. Something he seems to recognise but also something he confidently predicts we will manage to do: "Truthfully, I do not expect we will be relegated, David [Irons] will reinstall the confidence our players need."

The chairman also talks of his sympathy for Gretna and his disappointment with Jim McInally's resignation ("That [McInally's resignation] vexed me. We had a great relationship for three-and-a-half years here, never had a disagreement or an argument and Jim was perfect to work with.").

To read the full article click here: http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Gretna39s-loss-is--Morton39s.3808817.jp

Morton 1 - 2 St. Johnstone

Morton 1 - Weatherson (16)
St. Johnstone 2 - Milne (29, 40)

Att - 2,539

Morton (3-5-2):

1. Robinson - 6
2. Smith - 7 (12. MacGregor - 69 mins)
3. McLaughlin - 6
4. Harding - 6
5. Greacen - 6
6. McGuffie - 6 (16. Stevenson - 74 mins)
7. Finlayson - 5
8. Jenkins - 6
9. Weatherson - 7
10. Wake - 5 (14. Russell - 53 mins)
11. McAlister - 8

Subs Not Used:

15. McAnespie
20. McGurn

Robinson
Greacen Smith Harding
Finlayson McGuffie McLaughlin Jenkins McAlister
Wake Weatherson

St. Johnstone: Main, Irvine, McManus, Rutkiewicz (James 67), Stanic, Craig, Quinn (Moon 85), Sheerin, MacDonald (McBreen 69), Jackson, Milne. Subs Not Used: Cuthbert, Weatherston.

Booked: Rutkiewicz, Quinn, Moon.

My man of the match: Jim McAlister

Sponsor's man of the match: Jim McAlister

Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)














BBC match report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7257988.stm

Greenock Telegraph match report: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=20230

Greenock Telegraph match reaction: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=20231

Collins Believes Irons' Man Management Will Be Key To Avoiding Relegation

Davie Irons is a 'master in man management' according Derek Collins in today's Greenock Telegraph - and this is the main reason Collins believes Morton will stay in the first division this season.

The former Morton right-back told Roger Graham that there appears to be a fragility in the Morton squad and that Irons is just the man to change that. Collins said: “We’re confident we can move up and keep Morton in the First Division and we’ll do anything it takes to achieve that. There if a lot of ability in the squad here but there is some fragility. They’ve been losing goals, sometimes late in games, and we need to change that. But if anyone can change it, then it is Davie Irons. He is a master at man management. In a relegation situation no one knows better than us what is required. We’ve been doing it this season with Gretna."

To read the full article click here: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=20208

GMST Fans' Charity Match

On the 10th of May 2008 the Greenock Morton Supporters Trust will be running the 2nd annual fans' charity match - titled 'Morton Aid - The Cappielow Challenge Cup 2008'.

The event allows Morton fans the chance to bid for a place in one of the two fans' teams. Bidding for a shirt starts at £100 while £300 will secure your place and gives you the chance to play a full XI a-side match on the pitch at Cappielow under the guidance of a yet-to-be-named management team. You will be kitted out in a full Morton strip (home or away depending on your team) which you will be able to keep as a souvenir of the day. You also bid in the knowledge that the money you have spent will be put straight back into the club by aiding youth development - so it's win win for Ton fans.

There are 27 places available. To bid email fansgame@gmst.org.uk - check out the links below for details on how to bid.

I asked Trust board member Bryan Purdue about the event and what they hope to achieve. Bryan said "The day is to give the normal fans a taste of what it is like to be a pro footballer. They will be coached by the morton managment team with a warm up and a team talk through to playing a full 11 a-side game on the Cappielow pitch. We aim to use the money raised to provide the Morton youth set-up with kit, transport and coaching for the teams."





This will be the second year the fans game has taken place (action from last years game is pictured top left, while the two teams are pictured above). On the 2007 game Bryan said: "Last years event went well, there were good goals, a good crowd and everyone enjoyed it." A couple of pals of mine played in the game last year and agreed with Bryan's sentiments saying it was an excellent day. In fact if you check the bidding both Chris (home team 14) and Gary (home team 15) have already bidded for a place in this years game.

Get bidding!

Details: http://gmst.org.uk/fansgame/

Pictures from last years game: http://www.tontastic.com/index.cgi?dir=2007-04-29-Supporters-Game&med=i&pag=1

Bidding and Line-Ups: http://gmst.org.uk/fansgame/bids.htm

Morton Fans Wish Management Duo Good Luck

In an article in yesterday's paper The Greenock Telegraph's Russell Steele spoke to some Morton fans to gauge their opinions on the appointments of Davie Irons and Derek Collins. The fans asked were John Gisbey, Stuart Duncan and Jim MacVicar and they all seemed upbeat and supportive.

Not all supporters had Irons down as their number one choice as manager but where the fans have been unanimous is in their wishes of good luck to the new management team.

To read their opinions click here: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=1&id=20038