Gretna's loss is Morton's gain

THERE have been precious few benefactors within Scottish football from Gretna's recent fall from relative grace, but Douglas Rae fully believes he is one of that elite group.

It has almost been completely lost amid the fall-out from the most testing week of Gretna's league history that their former manager David Irons and his assistant, Derek Collins, will take charge of Morton for the first time today as St Johnstone visit Cappielow. It is without question the most intriguing First Division encounter of the day, with Rae, Morton's chairman and owner, adamant his new management team will steer the club away from their current position of second bottom.

"Truthfully, I do not expect we will be relegated," insisted Rae. "David will reinstall the confidence our players need."

It has been a whirlwind fortnight in Greenock. Rae harbours regret that Jim McInally resigned as manager following a defeat to Clyde, after the former Dundee United midfielder had succeeded where John McCormack could not in overseeing Morton's promotion from the Second Division.

"That (McInally's resignation] vexed me," explained Rae, a businessman who has made his personal fortune in confectionery after starting out as an agent in 1959. "We had a great relationship for three-and-a-half years here, never had a disagreement or an argument and Jim was perfect to work with.

"Ultimately, Jim felt the only way the players could get the supporters back on their side was if he left, so he fell on his sword. It has been a tougher season than we imagined, after we beat St Johnstone and Kilmarnock in cup ties last season."

Internal disharmony clearly does not sit well with Rae, whose second boardroom involvement with Morton has now lasted seven years. "I had my first season ticket here at the age of eight," he said. "I joined the board in 1985 then, when the fellow (Hugh] Scott took over in 1997, I bought my season ticket again. In 2001, instead of buying the season ticket, I decided just to buy the club."

Considerable resources, time and effort have since been spent in upgrading both the staff and facilities at Cappielow, although the owner is reluctant to quantify his contribution. "I don't think or talk about money in relation to Morton," Rae said. "This is because I love the club, and I want to do something for the community, for my employees.

"The Greenock area is undergoing a massive regeneration programme, huge sums of money are being poured in, and there are great hopes here for the future; I want Morton to be at the forefront of that."

Regarding on-field matters, the owner has little doubt that Morton could and would meet SPL stadium criteria if the need was to arise. For that to become a pressing issue, and by the chairman's own consent, Irons must oversee a steady improvement.

"Our initial aim was to remain in the First Division this year, and look next season at what would be needed to push near the top of the table," said Rae. "Then, we want to make a real effort to get back to the top division. A club such as ours cannot possibly break even without playing in the SPL."

There is sadness, too, for Gretna's plight. "I think a lot of us saw what problems could arise when they circulated a list of players available for transfer, 16 of them and mainly first-team players.

"In hindsight, they may have been better off if James Grady's goal had not gone in ten seconds before the end of last season to get them promoted. Having to play at another ground means a terrific on-cost; it may seem hollow because we have taken some of their staff, but I do sympathise."

Collins, of course, is something of a local hero in Greenock. Having made more than 500 appearances for Morton as a player, his return will be warmly welcomed in the boardroom as well as the expansive terraces of Cappielow. "Derek has the 100 per cent good of Morton at heart and he is delighted to be back," Rae said.

"We did a lot of research on David Irons, and found him to be an excellent coach, a man-manager, and I learned that he did most of the coaching and tactics at Gretna when he was the assistant to Rowan Alexander. He is ambitious, as ambitious as myself and my family are for Morton, and we will now move towards achieving some realistic goals."

The Scottish Football League has announced a number of rearranged First Division fixtures, due to postponements and Scottish Cup commitments. The new dates are as follows:

Livingston v Clyde, Saturday 8 March (3pm); Partick Thistle v Livingston, Tuesday 4 March (7:45pm); Livingston v Queen of the South, Tuesday 25 March (7:45pm); Partick Thistle v Dundee, Tuesday 25 March (7:45pm); St Johnstone v Clyde, Tuesday 18 March (7:45pm).