Our season only finished last Saturday and the rumour mill started on Sunday. Posts on the greenockmorton.org messageboard suggested lots of players had been released including David McGurn, Alan Gilbride, Craig Black, Dean Keenan, Scott McKellar and Scott McLaughlin while David MacGregor, Kieran McAnespie and Jamie Stevenson have been told they can move on.
As yet there has been no official confirmation of any of these rumours but today's Scottish Sun has a snippet that suggests Scott McLaughlin has been released. It says Spanish side Real Jaen and Notts County will compete for McLaughlin's signature.
In today's Greenock Telegraph Roger Graham tells us that "the club are currently having talks with Stewart Greacen, Ryan Harding, Alex Walker and Kevin Finlayson with a view to retaining them for the new season."
Erik Paartalu has signed a two year deal with Morton after impressing in the last couple of months of this season.
The news appeared in the Chairman's column on gmfc.net. However there appears to be a mistake. Douglas Rae says that the Australian has signed for two years but that he will be contracted to May 2011 at least - which is three years: "I am sure that all of our supporters will be pleased to learn that Erik Paartalu, who made a significant contribution to the Club in the remaining weeks of this season, signed a two year deal today which will keep him at Cappielow until at least May 2011."
Davie Irons and Derek Collins are pulling out all the stops to persuade Chris Millar to stay at Morton according to Steven McArthur in today's Greenock Telegraph.
Derek Collins is quoted as saying: "We are still in talks trying to persuade him to stay. St Johnstone are very keen to take Chris, but we will pull out all the stops to keep him here. He is still a Morton player until the end of May, and we hold Chris in high regard— he’s a very important player."
He also added: “Pre-contracts are not binding, but it’s the moral issue that he is struggling with. But sometimes gentleman’s agreements are broken.” This would suggest that Chris Millar can stay and wants to stay but doesn't want to go back on his commitment to St. Johnstone.
I said it on the Morton messageboard the other day and this only convinces me further that Millar will be playing at Cappielow next season.
The euphoria of scoring for a Scottish celebrity team against an English celebrity team at Wembley has caused former Morton player turned actor Martin Compston to claim he wishes he'd never quit football.
In today's Scottish Sun a full page article by Matt Bendoris tells how Compston scored the first goal in a 2-0 win (Darren Jackson netted the other)and quotes him as saying: "I wish I hadn't given up football." He also said: "That is one of the sweetest moments of my life. It's such a huge honour to score the first ever goal for Scotland at the new Wembley stadium."
Compston began his career as a trainee with Aberdeen. He played a total of 30 minutes of football for Morton over two sub appearances in season 2001/02. In both appearances we lost 4-0 - to Alloa and Queen of the South. The Queens game was the last game of the season and the one in which they celebrated their title win at Palmerston (a certain Peter Weatherson scored two of their goals). Compston then decided to quit football to concentrate on acting but did play for Greenock Juniors for a short while.
Over the course of this season the Morton support has come in for a lot of criticism from the chairman, a former manager and certain players. So it was a refreshing change to read the praise we've been given in the post match reaction. Here are a few of the comments that have been made:
"If you were here today you would've seen the crowd we had Richard [Gordon, on BBC radio], the bottom stand was packed. They had to open the main stand, the old stand becaue of the overflow, that was probably a third full. You know, so, when you see that type of support you see the potential that Morton have got. It's a large provincial club. We've not been in the first division for five years, at the very least we should be playing at this level of football." (Davie Irons, interviewed for BBC radio)
"We're delighted for our fans - they are the best in the land - and the gaffer who has been an inspiration since he came here. But we have to punch our weight from the start of next season and not just at the tail end." (Stewart Greacen, quoted in the Daily Record)
"The fans were absolutely brilliant today, they got behind us right from the start, and we gave them a performance they can be proud of — it gives them a bit of hope from next year." (Stewart Greacen, quoted in the Greenock Telegraph)
"The real winner is the First Division - it needs a team like Morton and their fans who made up almost half of the 5000 crowd. The Cappielow club add a different dimension to this league." (John Traynor, Daily Record journalist in his match report)
"I'm delighted for the fans. They've supported us in great numbers and it's great to repay them and send them home happy." (Brian Wake, quoted in the Sunday Mail)
"The queue snaked on and on, with many of those involved standing quietly, alone in their thoughts. They anticipated ecstasy or agony, but either way it looked like every supporter Morton possessed had rolled up to Firhill to face their team's fate head on. It was impressive. When it was time to go home, dozens of them were still in the vicinity, singing, chanting, telling anyone within earshot that Morton were the best team in the universe, or words to that effect." (Douglas Campbell, The Herald journalist in his match report)
"Last time I was up here I got a few shouts here and there but today I'd like to thank everybody, all the fans, for the reception at the end - it means a lot to me. It's brilliant, I don't confess that everybody likes me, some probably hate me, but it was emotional. I didn't think I would feel the way I did at the end, but it was much appreciated." (Chris Millar, quoted in the Greenock Telegraph)
"For me the REAL integrity of the Scottish game lies in the spirit of those Gretna players who still fight their corner when they could walk away. It lies in the 2,500 Morton fans taking over Firhill and roaring their team to safety." (Bill Leckie, Scottish Sun journalist in his column on the back page of the Supergoals pull-out)
As the front page of today's Tele' says 'We Did It'.
Morton avoided the play-offs and a play-off for the play-offs by matching Clyde's result at home to Stirling Albion - both sides winning 3-0 - in a day full of drama.
It seemed that everytime we scored Clyde would also score keeping the pressure on our players and the 2,600 strong Morton support biting our nails.
We put ourselves in the driving seat by taking the lead in the 12th minute. Newly established cult hero Brian Wake volleyed homewith his left foot after an Erik Paartalu cross was knocked down by Iain Russell inside the box. The goal was similar to the one he scored against St. Johnstone at McDiarmid Park and seems to suggest that Wake is something of a penalty box predator. His general play outside the box isn't the best but in the box he's been deadly over the last few weeks. Wakey had another chance in the first half; he chested down a cross ball swivelled brilliantly to hook a powerful volley into the bottom corner, Northern Ireland Under-21 internationalist goalkeeper Jon Tuffey dived low to his left to make an excellent save. Wake's chest, turn and shot impressed me more than either of his goals!
Clyde's Gary McSwegan pulled the Bully Wee back level with us in the 44th minute but this didn't last long as Kevin Finlayson let fly from around 25 - 30 yards and the ball flew past Tuffey in the Thistle goal (after watching the video on gmfc.net I've decided this goal was even better than I remember). Morton were back on top at half-time.
However, the twists and turns began again right after the restart. Pat Clarke - a transfer window signing from Cowdenbeath - scored immediately after half time to once again bring Clyde level.
Wake put the Morton support in dreamland with a third goal - his second - that turned out to be the goal that kept us up. My memory, Miller genuine draft and distance from the third goal prevent me remembering exactly how it happened but what I do remember is Brian Wake sort of hitting his shot off of Tuffey but it still ending up in the net.
At this point we seemed to be in control and with the news that Clyde were still only 2-0 up at Broadwood, and needing two goals or one goal and Thistle to score, we could see out the game quite comfortably. This all changed in the 83rd minute when Pat Clarke scored his second of the day from the penalty spot meaning a nerve jangling last 7 or so minutes for everyone involved.
As it happened we saw out the game and Clyde failed to score meaning we stayed up but not without some controversy. Partick's Damon Gray attempted to nick a goal by failing to pass back when Morton put the ball out for an injury to Iain Russell. Gray got on the end of the thrown in - which seemed to be aimed for Lee Robinson - but failed to punish the sleepy Ton defence. Clyde claimed that rumours circulated their ground suggesting that Thistle had pulled back not one but two goals on us and some Clyde fans have suggested that their players eased off believing they were staying up. Well Thistle hadn't and the celebrating Clyde fans must've felt like they'd been mugged when the real score filtered through.
The joyous scenes at the end were mostly stimulated by relief but I also think that there's a real optimism that Davie Irons has the managerial ability to get us up the right end of the table next season. Roll on 2008 / 2009.
Age: 23 (13.10.1987) Position: Central Defence; Right Back, Left Back, Central Midfield Born: Bermondsey, England Nationality: English
Height: 6' 1" Transfer: Free - Unattached Date Signed: 05.08.2008 (2 years) Date Left: 16.05.2010 Transfer Out: Released - Dundee Former Clubs: Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers, Bournemouth [loan], Crawley Town, Morton, Dundee. Current Club: Dover Athletic. Honours With Morton: Personal Honours: Irn-Bru Phenomenal young player of the month: October 2008 Miscellaneous:Dominic started his career as a youth player at Arsenal. At only 17 years old QPR paid £70,000 to take him from Arsenal reserves.
He signed for Morton after a couple of trial matches. In between the trials matches and signing he also had a successful trial with St. Mirren and was offered a contract but Shimmin did not get back to the Paisley side.
Dominic likens his playing style to that of Rio Ferdinand: "I'm a technical centre half, but very aggressive. I'd liken myself to Rio Ferdinand."
Full Name: Allan William McManus Age: 35 (17.11.1974) Position: Central Defence Position At Morton: Player / Assistant Manager Appointed Caretaker Manager: 21.09.2009 Appointed Assistant Manager: 30.10.2009 Date Left: 15.05.2010 Born: Paisley, Scotland Nationality: Scottish
Height: 6' 1" Transfer: Free - St. Johnstone Date Signed: 02.06.2008 (2 years) Date Left: 15.05.2010 Transfer Out: Released Former Clubs: Heart Of Midlothian, Livingston, Alloa Athletic, Airdrieonians, Ayr United, Airdrie United, St. Johnstone, Morton Former Clubs: (non-playing): Morton (player/caretaker manager, player/ assistant manager), St.Mirren (under-17s coach) Current Club: Dumbarton Honours With Morton: Personal Honours: Miscellaneous:
Total League Points Collected: 6 out of a possible 18
*Cup matches that are won or lost in extra-time are listed as wins or losses, matches that go penalties are listed as a draw irrespective of whether we won or lost after penalties.
Our season only finished last Saturday and the rumour mill started on Sunday. Posts on the greenockmorton.org messageboard suggested lots of players had been released including David McGurn, Alan Gilbride, Craig Black, Dean Keenan, Scott McKellar and Scott McLaughlin while David MacGregor, Kieran McAnespie and Jamie Stevenson have been told they can move on.
