Greenock Morton fielded two 15-year-olds on the bench and sent on 16-year-old Aaron Greenock as a substitute in a 0-1 Championship defeat to Partick Thistle on Saturday, as manager Ian Murray leaned on teenagers with his playing budget stretched thin.
Dalrada, Morton's main sponsor, is due to stop funding the club at the end of the season. This year's budget is so tight that Murray has been forced to turn to academy players barely old enough to sit exams.
Sam Williamson, 77, a retired engineer who spent his working life in Greenock's shipyards, watched the game from The Norseman pub near Cappielow. He has followed Morton since the 1950s and rates Joe Mason, who played for the club from 1966 to 1972, among its greats. "We seem to go through it every year," he said. "I just keep going because it's my team. But the truth is that it's all about money. And we don't seem to have much of it. But look at the town. It has been stripped of major industry. When I was 15 I went straight into work and there was plenty of it."
Estrella investment deal
Estrella, a multi-club investment group, has finalised an agreement to invest £750,000 in Morton for player data, recruitment and operational support, in exchange for a 35 per cent stake in the club and two seats on the board. The proposal will go to a meeting of Morton Club Together, the fan group that owns the club, later this month for ratification.
Estrella also holds a stake in Cascais, the Portuguese side, and Aurora Pro Patria, the Italian Serie C team. David Whitton, chairman of Morton Club Together and one of its representatives on the club board, said the money would not go directly into this season's first-team budget, though there may be some flexibility. The cash is intended largely to restructure and innovate systems at the club.
"We are ready to put this deal in front of our members," Whitton said. "They will decide on how they mean to progress." A move to sign an exclusivity deal with Estrella in February was backed by 95 per cent of Morton Club Together members, though Whitton declined to predict the outcome of the coming vote. "Like every football club it will be a very emotional decision for our supporters," he said. "Some will see the opportunity for investment and what that could bring. Some will see a loss of control to an outside group. It's difficult to say what will be decided at our AGM on August 17 but information will be shared with all members with full transparency."
Fan reaction and board changes
Lewis Hemming, 22, said he does not expect miracles but wants a clear plan. "Under Douglas Rae we had money but no strategy," he said, referring to the confectionery business owner. "Now we seem to have no money and no strategy. My view is that we should be looking longer-term. We should be improving facilities and being more active on the commercial front. Clubs like Ayr United and Falkirk have moved forward significantly and we should be able to do the same."
Three directors of Morton Club Together have stepped down recently, and John McMaster, a local boy and Aberdeen legend, is standing for election to the board.
"It was a straightforward decision for me," McMaster said. "I was brought up in the town and I have a great affection for Morton." McMaster, 71, was part of Aberdeen's victory in the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup and the subsequent Super Cup. He is now an ambassador at Port Glasgow, the West of Scotland Football League side, and said the lessons learned there would guide his approach at Morton if elected. "We all have to be pulling together, we all have to be on the same page," he said. "That sounds simple but it can be tougher in practice. At Port Glasgow we have built a welcoming atmosphere and we are keen to bring players through. I would love to repeat that at Morton. And if they want someone to teach the kids, then I would be delighted to do that."
Teenagers thrust into the first team
Two 15-year-olds played in Morton's league cup matches this season and were named on the bench again on Saturday, though unused. Aaron Greenock, 16, came off the bench in the second half as Morton pushed for an equaliser, but a late goal from Tsoanelo Letsosa sealed the win for Thistle. "I am proud of them today. I cannot ask for any more in work rate and commitment," Murray said afterwards.
Thistle are among the favourites to win the Championship, and the gap in quality and experience on the two benches was stark. Euan Henderson, who has played more than 200 senior games, came on to play well for the Jags as Murray turned to teenagers. "We are thin on the ground in terms of players," Murray said. On Greenock, he added: "He was training with us from Tuesday. Without wishing to be funny, these guys are sitting with computers in their bedroom on a Monday night, then coming to train with us the next day and then playing Championship football on a Saturday."
Morton were defeated four times in the Premier League Sports Cup this season without scoring a goal. There are 35 more matches left in the Championship, and five players under the age of 17 were named in Morton's matchday squad on Saturday.
Murray remained upbeat about the Estrella deal. "It's all positive," he said. "We are dying to get that over the line. We need it. We cannot rely on young players. We need reinforcements." He also pointed to a run of injuries testing his squad, adding with a rueful smile that was not entirely a joke: "These kids are back at school shortly."
