Moore Plans Second Stirling Raid

Allan Moore is set to raid former club Stirling Albion for left-winger David O'Brien after offering defender Andy Graham a two-year deal last week.

According to today's Greenock Telegraph, Moore has opened talks with 26-year-old O'Brien (pictured: tussling with Peter Weatherson and Kevin Finlayson in 2007), who joined the Forthbank side in 2001 and spent seven seasons there before moving to Dundee in the summer of 2007.

However, his time at Dens Park was short-lived and he was released after just two seasons. He then had an even shorter spell at Ayr United, where his contract was cancelled by 'mutual consent' after two months when he expressed his anger at being dropped for a match. Upon hearing of his release, Moore wasted no time in bringing him back to Stirling and now looks set to sign him for a second time.

"I'd like to take Andy Graham, the right-back, but he's been offered pre-season by Hamilton," he told the BBC's Keir Murray. "I had him for five years and he's the best professional I've ever worked with.

"The other one is left winger David O'Brien. He went to Dundee and it never happened for him but I believe I can get the best out of him."

Greenock Telegraph - Moore Wants To Sign Stirling Pair (31.05.2010)

bbc.co.uk - Allan Moore Eyes Top Flight With Morton (29.05.2010)

"If Carlsberg Made A Month...

... I think I've just sampled it," says Allan Moore in a recent video interview for the BBC website.

May has been a great month for Moore. So far, his Stirling Albion team have won the Second Division title and promotion to the First Division, for which he was awarded the Irn-Bru Phenomenal Second Division Manager of the Year and was then given his dream move to full-time management with Morton.

In the interview with the BBC's Keir Murray, Moore talks about: getting players in for extra work in the afternoon to work on set-pieces and the team's shape; how he probably wouldn't have retained any of our out of contract players, with the exception of Jim McAlister; how we have too many one-paced players in the middle of the park; how he will play a 4-4-2 with wingers and midfielders who can get about the park and how he wants to get Morton to the SPL within his initial three-year contract.

You can watch the full interview here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/morton/8712907.stm

scottishfootballleague.com - Irn-Bru SFL End Of Season Awards (28.05.2010)

Moore To Sign Ton Fan

Allan Moore has targeted a Morton fan as his first signing for the club - Stirling Albion defender Andy Graham.

Graham, who was born in Glasgow but raised in Dunoon, is out of contract this summer, and Moore is is set to make a move for the defender, according to the Evening Times' Bert Mitchell.

“I signed Andy a few years back and worked with him for his full senior career and I would love to bring him to Cappielow," Moore told Mitchell. "Andy is versatile and a player who I think can make the step up to the First Division and take things on from there.

“He can still improve and I have no doubt going full-time would do that. I know Hamilton are interested, but making a step up two divisions to the SPL is a big thing. He is a dedicated young footballer and exactly the sort I hope to bring to Cappielow.”

I've played in a couple of the recent Gourock versus Dunoon annual challenge matches, and over the last few years I've got to know a few of the Dunoon boys and they've assured me Graham is a big Ton fan and would love to play for the club.

And if any further proof were needed, you could consult his profile on Football Manager 2010 - a PC football management game renowned for the accuracy of its database - on which Graham's 'favoured club' is Morton (pictured, below: click to enlarge).



Evening Times - Ton Boss Moore In Move For Graham (27.05.2010)

Ton Handed Two Away Draws

As usual, Morton have been drawn away from home in the first round of both the Alba Challenge Cup and the Co-operative Insurance Cup next season.

We travel over the Erskine Bridge to face Dumbarton in the 1st round of the Challenge Cup on Saturday, 24 July and then journey down the coast to meet Stranraer in the Co-op Cup on Saturday, 31 July.

scottishfootballleague.com - The Co-op Cup 1st Round Draw

scottishfootballleague.com - The Alba Challenge Cup, 2010/11

First Friendly Announced

Morton will play Coca-Cola League 1 side Bristol Rovers in a pre-season friendly.

Rovers, who finished 11th in League 1 last season, travel north for a small Scottish tour in July. They visit Cappielow on Saturday, 17 July and then Partick Thistle at Firhill the following Tuesday.

Former Morton player John Anderson (pictured, below) spent three seasons with The Pirates in the mid-noughties.



bristolrovers.co.uk - Rovers Off To Scotland For Pre-Season (27.05.2010)

It's Official

Allan Moore has today been confirmed as Morton manager after signing a three-year deal at Golden Casket late last night.

And he immediately targeted a mid-table finish as a minimum expectation for next season. “It is not going to be an overnight thing, the chairman Douglas Rae has not put pressure on me in that regard, but I am looking for a fifth or sixth-placed finish. If we can get above that then great," he told the Evening Times' Bert Mitchell

“In my first season at Stirling we managed mid-table and then went on from there, and I know that at the higher level it will be even tougher but it is a challenge I relish.”

Moore also stressed how he wants his side to be one of the fittest in the Division - and that means a combination of hungry young players and longer training sessions. "I am confident that my Stirling side were the fittest team in the Second Division last season and that just wasn’t down to their training. It was about getting young players in who had the youth and energy to play at a tempo for the duration of a game and not fade.

“I also want players in who are willing to be coached in the afternoons."

In his time at Forthbank, Moore has won one league title, three promotions, was relegated once and has won five SFL manager of the month awards.

His full managerial record is as follows:

2002/03: Stirling Albion - 5th in Division 3
2003/04: Stirling Albion - 2nd in Division 3 (promoted)
2004/05: Stirling Albion - 4th in Division 2
2005/06: Stirling Albion - 5th in Division 2
2006/07: Stirling Albion - 2nd in Division 2 (promoted via play-offs)
2007/08: Stirling Albion - 10th in Division 1 (relegated)
2008/09: Stirling Albion - 5th in Division 2
2009/10: Stirling Albion - 1st in Division 2 (champions)

Greenock Telegraph - Moore Confirmed As New Ton Boss (26.05.2010)

Evening Times - Moore Joy As Morton Deal Done (26.05.2010)

Morton versus Alistair Donald

Morton are suing former director Alistair Donald for £82,232.47, plus interest and expenses, according to the front page splash of today's Greenock Telegraph.

Tele' journalist David Moroney reveals that the club are alleging that Donald, who resigned from the board in December last year, owes money after agreeing to pay: James Grady's wages until May 2010; £50 per week, National Insurance and win bonuses to Kevin Cuthbert and 'costs' associated with Neil MacFarlane until May 2011.

Donald, however, only accepts that he agreed to pay some costs to Grady's contract for the 2008/09 season and denies the rest of the claims. He has also requested that the club produce minutes and notes from board meetings as well as details of salaries, invoices and specific details of the alleged agreements.

Greenock Telegraph - Morton Sue Ex-Director For £80,000 (25.05.2010)

Puma Kings

Morton have today unveiled their new home and away kits for season 2010/11 and, as expected, the manufacturer is Puma.

The kits, modelled here by Peter Weatherson and Brian Graham, were exclusively revealed in today's Greenock Telegraph.

The home kit will launch on Friday, 4 June while the away kit will be available from Friday, 23 July. Both launches will be at 8am in Smiths in Greenock.

The fact that the strips are made by a quality multi-national sportswear company like Puma - who are kit manufacturer to: Tottenham, Lazio, Newcastle, the Italian national team, numerous African national teams as well as First Division rivals Falkirk, Raith Rovers and Dunfermline Athletic and SPL club Hibs - should ensure that they will be great sellers.

gmfc.net - New Season Kit Launch

Greenock Telegraph - First Look At New Morton Strips (21.05.2010)