Football Season Guide

Championship

Scotland

Championship

2019/2020

Morton

In

Nicky Cadden (mi) Livingston; Robbie Muirhead (att) Dunfermline Athletic; Aidan Nesbitt (mid) Dundee United; Kyle Jacobs (mid) Queen of the South; Calvin Orsi (mid) Brechin City; Sam Ramsbottom (gk) Alfreton Town; Cameron Salkeld (att) Gateshead; John Sutton (att/coach); Peter Grant (def) Carlisle; Brian McLean (def) Dumbarton.

Out

Gary Oliver (r) (att) Queen of the South; Lee Kilday (r) (def) Queen of the South; Robert Thomson (att) Alloa Athletic; Derek Gaston (sp) (gk) Arbroath; Charlie Telfer (r) (mid) Falkirk; Michael Tidser (r) (mid) Falkirk; Gregor Buchanan (r) (def) Falkirk; Jack Iredale (r) (def) Carlisle United; Rory McKeown (def); Denny Johnstone (att) Falkirk; Ben Armour (att) Peterhead; Jack Purdue (mid) Queen’s Park; Greg Kiltie (r) (att) Kilmarnock – end of loan; Robby McCrorie (r) (gk) Rangers – end of loan; Kerr Waddell (r) (def) Dundee – end of loan; Andrew Dallas, (att) Rangers – end of loan; Keelan O'Connell (mid) Bournemouth – end of loan.

Morton survived last season, but the messy departure of Jonatan Johanssen before the last game of the campaign has left onlookers wondering what is going on in Greenock. They began with Ray McKinnon in charge, but he quickly made a controversial switch to Falkirk. Johanssen replaced him but Morton were never settled after that and flirted with relegation until the last few games of the season. Former player David Hopkin has taken charge and Morton hope he can reproduce the success he recently enjoyed at Livingston. It seems likely Morton will take a more physical approach with an emphasis on set-pieces. Kyle Jacobs brings bite to midfield while Robbie Muirhead and player/coach John Sutton bring height and physicality to their attack. Morton were hugely inconsistent last season and a title challenge looks beyond them despite the presence of Hopkin. However, the same was thought when Hopkin took charge at Livingston. Yet, he turned them into Championship title winners. Morton should be more competitive this season as Hopkin won’t accept anything less. Goalkeeping could be a problem if a loan signing isn’t made. Neither of the signed goalkeepers have much experience.

Target

The play-offs. Morton may lack the quality of other teams, but Hopkin should make them competitive and difficult to beat.