Greenock and Morton are intertwined — keeping this club alive matters to both.
John McCartney has followed Greenock Morton for more than six decades. He has a lifetime of memories with his hometown team, yet as he stands outside Cappielow before the Championship match with Arbroath, he admits he’s more worried about the club’s future than ever before.
Morton’s main sponsor, Dalrada, has run into difficulties, creating a knock-on effect that has put significant pressure on the club’s finances.
There are efforts under way to steady the ship and restore a firmer financial base, but supporters remain anxious.
McCartney says he cherishes his many happy memories with Morton and wants to make more.
He hopes future generations can share that experience and pledges to do all he can to help the club through this spell, believing many fans feel the same.
He notes other clubs — Hamilton, Dumbarton, Inverness — have faced similar crises, and now it’s Morton’s turn.
Those clubs survived, he says, and Morton can too — but only if everyone pulls together and fights to keep the club going, because it’s vital for Greenock and for supporters like him.
Dalrada began sponsoring Morton in June last year with an initial £540,000 agreement, followed by a further £240,000 commitment in September. The company’s recent issues, however, led to reduced payments and a resulting cash-flow squeeze at Cappielow.
The club has been community-owned for five years, though several volunteer directors with Morton Club Together have recently stepped down.
Investment group Estrella had proposed £750,000 for a 35% share but withdrew last week, saying Morton’s situation had “deteriorated significantly, both financially and on the pitch” since a memorandum of understanding in March.
How severe is it now?
“We’re not at the stage of turning the lights off,” general manager Mark Kelly told BBC Scotland.
He acknowledges November will be tight, but believes support from Morton fans and the wider Scottish football community can see the club through.
It will be difficult and challenging, he adds, but it’s not “doom and gloom” yet.
Kelly praised supporters and the Scottish football community, urging Morton fans to back the club whenever they can.
He says there are ongoing discussions behind the scenes that, if completed, could help secure the club’s future.