JIM Duffy is the fans’ favourite as the search begins for a new manager at Morton.
Following the departure of Jim McInally, the Greenock club were yesterday stepping up the hunt for his successor and Duffy, a former Morton player, was the main name in the frame.
Duffy moved into management with another of his former clubs, Du
ndee, who he led to a Scottish Cup final in 2003. He enjoyed a less successful time at Hibs, then had spells coaching with Chelsea and Portsmouth. He was also with Hearts for a short spell and then assistant to Peter Grant at Norwich before taking over the club as caretaker after Grant’s departure.
Morton fans were yesterday talking about a management team of Duffy and Grant, although a number of other candidates, including former Partick Thistle manager Dick Campbell, are said to be interested.
Duffy is at present out of football and working as a media pundit.
McInally left on Monday with chairman Douglas Rae emphasising that he had tried to keep him at the club. And Rae raised some controversy when he suggested that the departure was due to a section of the club’s fans. Rae said: “Our players appear to have suffered more from the criticism level at home games than when playing in front of our more supportive travelling fan base.”
On the club’s website
www.gmfc.net, he added: “Jim indicated the only way the players were going to find favour once again with the fans would be if a new manager was brought in. With great reluctance I accepted Jim’s viewpoint.
“It is interesting to note, when examining our performances, that we have won 15 points from away fixtures, the third highest in the league, while at home we have gained the fewest points, only nine out of a possible 36. This suggests our players appear to have suffered more from the criticism level at home games than when playing in front of our more supportive travelling fan base.”
McInally’s assistant, Martin Clark, will also be leaving, but will continue to take training this week.
McInally stepped down after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Clyde at Cappielow left them second bottom of the Irn-Bru First Division. He was in charge of the Greenock side for three and a half years and led them to the Second Division title last season.
The full article contains 410 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
