Applications Flood In

Douglas Rae's latest post on www.gmfc.net reveals that "many applications have been received for our vacancy for which we extend our grateful thanks."

He invites further applications (from 'suitably qualified and experienced managers') and makes clear that interviews will start soon as the appointment is urgent.

http://www.gmfc.net/chairman/news-view.asp?id=36

Hawke Rules Himself Out - For Now

In today's Greenock Telegraph Chris Fitzgerald talks to former Morton striker Warren Hawke about his name being put forward (by fans) as a possible replacement for Jim McInally.

Hawke rules himself out by stating that's he's not yet ready but believes he will be the man for the job a couple of years down the line.

He said: “There is no doubt I’d be very flattered to be linked to the position. Whether on a short or long-term basis, the role would always be very appealing."

“However, for the first 18 months since I retired, I enjoyed spending weekends with my family and it’s only this season I’ve been returning to various grounds around the country to increase my knowledge of players. To take on this prestigious role requires someone with extensive knowledge of all the divisions and I feel I’m still a couple of years away from this. That, linked with my current business commitments, means I wouldn’t be able to give the manager’s role the commitment it deserves."

So Warren believes that he is not quite ready because his knowledge of the lower leagues is not what it could be. He does, however, believe that no one understands the club and it's fans quite like himself: “The position should never be taken lightly. The need for a manager who understands the club, the players and the fantastic support is paramount. I believe in this area I would be the best candidate. "

Warren Hawke wont be replacing Jim McInally as Morton manager but I wouldn't bet against him replacing the man who does a few years down the line.

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=19839

Morton Job Interests Duffy

The rumour mill is going to overdrive and one name keeps popping up in connection with the Morton manager's job - Jim Duffy.

In an article (pictured below - read by clicking to enlarge) in today's Scottish Sun Robert Grieve informs us that Duffy would love the job. Duffy said: "Of course the Morton job would interest me. I know from my time playing at Cappielow it's a fantastic club with huge potential."

Name: Jim Duffy

Age: 48 (d.o.b - 27.4.1959)
Position (as a player): Central Defence

Nationality: Scottish

Former Clubs (Player): Celtic, Morton, Dundee, Partick Thistle

Former Clubs (Non-playing): Falkirk [manager], Dundee [player/assistant manager then player/ manager, returned as manager for a 2nd spell], Hibs [manager], Chelsea [coach], Portsmouth [coach], Hearts [Director of football], Norwich City [assistant manager then caretaker-manager]

Awards: 1984/85 - Scottish PFA Players' Player Of The Year

Competitions: 1995/96 League Cup runners up (Dundee), 2002/03 Scottish Cup runners up

Others: Relegations - 1993/94 & 2004/05 (both Dundee), 1997/98 (Hibs - sacked in February of that season)

In researching Duffy's career I came upon an interesting article on the Dundee Mad website. The article is a balanced criticism of Duffy's time at Dundee but includes the line: "We feel that perhaps Jim Duffy values his own opinions so strongly that no other view gets a look in. That appears to have been his downfall as a manager throughout his career." The Dundee Mad admin sees this as a negative but knowing that he will be working under Douglas Rae Morton fans could see this as a positive.

John Davies, Rowan Alexander and Dick Campbell are other managers rumoured to be intersted in the job.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Duffy_(footballer)

http://www.dundee-mad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=EDZ5&id=236879

Clark In Charge For The Dundee Match

In a follow up to his post about Jim McInally's resignation Douglas Rae has used the official website to say that Martin Clark will take training for the rest of this week and will prepare the team for the Dundee match.

However it does not specifically say he will be in charge of the team at Dens Park although I assume this will be the case.

Thereafter Clark will leave his role as assistant manager.

http://www.gmfc.net/chairman/news-view.asp?id=35

Dick Campbell Wants The Job

Today's Evening Times follows the same route as the Daily and the Scottish Sun in rehashing Douglas Rae's post on http://www.gmfc.net/ to make a news story while hanging it on a headline ('Fans fury forced Mac out at Ton') that suggests that Rae has said the fans forced Jim McInally out of the club. This might be the chairman's private opinion but all he actually does is infer that the fans are to blame for our poor home record (absolute nonsense in my opinion).

The most interesting part of the article is the last paragraph which says: "A management team of Jim Duffy and Peter Grant has gained currency in Greenock, while ex Partick boss Dick Campbell, is said to be keen on the post.

I'm not sure just who the Jim Duffy / Peter Grant partnership has 'gained currency' with in Greenock. Jim Duffy yes but I haven't heard anything about Peter Grant. I'm also praying that Dick Campbell's interest is ignored.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2037100.0.fans_fury_forced_mac_out_at_ton.php

He's Gone!

According to a post by Douglas Rae on http://www.gmfc.net/ Jim McInally is no longer manager of Morton after resigning earlier today. Martin Clark will follow him out of the club shortly.

The former Dundee United, Nottingham Forest, Celtic and Scotland player told Douglas Rae that he was resigning because
he thought that the best way forward for the Club was for him to move on and indicated that the only way that the players were going to find favour once again with the supporters would be if a new Manager was brought in

Rae goes on to express his disappointment stating that he accepted his management duos resignation with regret. He also makes an absolutely absurd comment blaming the Morton fans for our poor home record and finishes by wishing both men luck in the future.

McInally was appointed Morton manager in October 2004. In his 3 years and 4 months at Morton he won the 2nd division championship in 2006/07. He extended his contract in May 2007 by signing a 1 year rolling extension.

Season By Season Record:

2004/05 - 3rd in 2nd Division (1 point off promotion)
2005/06 - 2nd in 2nd Division (lost 1-0 in two legged play-off semi-final against Peterhead)
2006/07 - 1st in 2nd Division (Champions - 8 points ahead of Stirling Albion)
2007/08 - 9th in 1st Division (leaves Morton in second bottom in the play-off position with 12 matches to play)

Awards:

2nd Division manager of the month - March 2005, November 2005, August 2006, September 2006, December 2006

http://www.gmfc.net/chairman/news-view.asp?id=34

Appointment: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/morton/3944357.stm

1 year rolling contract: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/morton/6635865.stm

McInally To Quit

According to an article by the Daily Record's Anthony Haggerty Jim McInally is set to quit as Morton manager.

The article states that Douglas Rae spent an hour with Jim after Saturday's last gasp defeat at home to Clyde.

However it also suggests that the chairman is 'desperate' to hold on to McInally and will try to persuade him to stay on.

I can't see it. I think he will force Rae to accept his resignation after this latest humiliation.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/scottish-football/scottish-football-league/2008/02/11/jim-mcinally-set-to-quit-morton-86908-20315751/

Morton 1 - 2 Clyde

Morton 1 - Millar (52)
Clyde 2 - McKeown (90), MacLennan (90 + 3)

Att - 2,239

Morton (3-5-2):

1. McGurn - 5
2. Smith - 7
3. McLaughlin - 6
4. Jenkins - 7
5. Greacen - 6
6. Millar - 7
7. Finlayson - 5
8. McGuffie - 6
9. Weatherson - 6
10. Wake - 6 (16. Russell - 71 mins)
11. McAlister - 5

Subs Not Used:
12. MacGregor
14. Stevenson
15. Graham
20. Robinson

Booked: Millar, Wake.

McGurn
McGuffie* Smith Greacen
Finlayson Millar Jenkins McLaughlin** McAlister
Wake Weatherson

* McGuffie moved to a sitting role in midfield early on, then moved back to defence.
** Mclaughlin moved between midfield and left back.

Clyde: Hutton, Bestvina, McKeown, Neil McGregor, Campbell (Masterton 83), Gibson, Bradley, Fagan (Ruari MacLennan 80), Michael McGowan (Arbuckle 68), David McGowan, Clarke. Subs Not Used: Higgins, Cherrie.

My man of the match: Chris Millar

Sponsor's man of the match: Barry Smith

Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)














BBC Match report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7233470.stm

Tele' match report: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=19684

Tele' match reaction: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=19685