Season 2010–11 saw

Greenock Morton Greenock Morton Football Club is a Scottish professional football club, which plays in the Scottish Championship. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs. Morton was renamed Greeno ...

compete in their fourth consecutive season in the First Division, having defeated Ayr United on the last day of the 2009–10 season.

Story of the season

May

James Grady James Grady may refer to: * James Grady (footballer) (born 1971), Scottish footballer * James Grady (author) James Grady (born April 30, 1949) is an American writer and investigative journalist known for his Thriller (genre), thriller novels on ...

and his assistant

Allan McManus Allan William McManus (born 17 November 1974 in Paisley, Renfrewshire) is a Scottish former professional football player and coach. He played for Hearts, Livingston, Alloa Athletic, Ayr United, Airdrie United, St Johnstone, Greenock Morton, D ...

(signed for Dumbarton) were sacked on 9 May, after eight months in charge.

Ryan McGuffie Ryan McGuffie (born 22 July 1980 in Dumfries, Scotland) is a Scottish former professional footballer who last played for Australian club St Albans Saints. McGuffie is a utility player who can line up in either defence or midfield. Career Ea ...

signed a pre-contract agreement with hometown club Queen of the South. Erik Paartalu returned home to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

to sign for Brisbane Roar. Morton release 7 other players, although they may still be re-signed by the new manager when he is appointed. Brian Graham accepted a new deal and Colin Stewart was offered new terms. The released players were

Jim McAlister James Duncan McAlister (born 2 November 1985 in Rothesay) is a retired Scottish footballer, who is most known for being club captain for Greenock Morton, making 361 appearances for the club. Although predominantly right-footed, McAlister pla ...

(signed for

Hamilton Accies Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Accies, or The Accies, is a Scottish football club from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire who currently compete in the Scottish Championship, having been relegated from the 2020–21 Scottis ...

Steven Masterton Steven Allan Masterton (born 2 January 1985) is a Scottish Association football, football midfielder who last played for Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region side Hurlford United F.C., Hurlford United. Career Kilmarnock Masterton ...

(signed for Crawley Town), Alan Reid,

Dominic Shimmin Dominic Edward Shimmin (born 13 October 1987, in Bermondsey) is an English former footballer. In his career, he has also played for Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers, AFC Bournemouth and Crawley Town. Shimmin mainly plays as a centre half. Career ...

(signed for

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

), Donovan Simmonds (signed for Rushden & Diamonds),

Kevin Finlayson Kevin Charles Finlayson (born 7 December 1979 in Glasgow) is a Scottish former footballer that is assistant manager for Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. Throughout his career he played for five clubs in the Scottish Football League, before turning Junio ...

(signed for Clyde) and Alex Walker (signed for

East Stirlingshire East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scotland, Scottish association football club based in the town of Falkirk. The club was founded in 1881 and competes in the , in the fifth tier of the Scottish football league system. The club's origins ca ...

Puma Puma or PUMA may refer to: Animals * ''Puma'' (genus), a genus in the family Felidae ** Puma (species) or cougar, a large cat Businesses and organisations * Puma (brand), a multinational shoe and sportswear company * Puma Energy, a mid- and d ...

were announced as the new kit manufacturers for the 2010–11 season. Allan Moore was appointed as manager on 26 May, on a three-year deal.

June

Morton made their first signing of the season on a pre-contract agreement, signing

Marc Smyth Marc Smyth (born 27 December 1982) is a Scottish-born Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is currently Head of Academy at Cliftonville after retiring. Career In his Scottish Football League career, Smyt ...

from

Airdrie United Airdrieonians Football Club is a Scottish professional football team in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, who are members of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and play in Scottish League One. They were formed in 2002 as Airdrie United ...

; however the move was only fully completed on 29 June. Colin Stewart also signed a new contract.

Kevin Kelbie Kevin Kelbie (born 21 December 1984) is a Scottish former footballer. He has previously played in the Scottish Football League for Greenock Morton and Stirling Albion. He also had spells in Northern Ireland with Glentoran, Ballymena United a ...

signed from

Northern Irish Northern Irish people is a demonym for all people born in Northern Ireland or people who are entitled to reside in Northern Ireland without any restriction on their period of residence. Most Northern Irish people either identify as Northern ...

side

Ballymena United Ballymena United Football Club is a semi-professional football club from Northern Ireland. Based in Ballymena, County Antrim, the team competes in the NIFL Premiership and plays home matches at the Ballymena Showgrounds which is owned by the Mi ...

. David O'Brien joined up with his ex-boss Moore on a free transfer from

Stirling Albion Stirling Albion Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the city of Stirling. The club was founded in 1945 following the demise of King's Park after World War II. The club currently competes in Scottish League Two as a member of the ...

. It was announced on 7 June that Morton would play Blyth Spartans,

Gateshead Gateshead () is a large town in northern England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle to which it is joined by seven bridges. The town contains the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Sage ...

and Bristol Rovers in pre-season friendlies.

Graeme Holmes Graeme Holmes (born 26 March 1984 in Motherwell) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Cumbernauld Colts. Career Holmes began his career with Dundee United but made only four appearances (three in the league), all as substitu ...

was signed from Dunfermline Athletic. Moore appointed Mark McNally as his assistant.

Iain Russell Iain Thomas Russell (born 14 November 1982) is a Former Scottish professional footballer who last played as a forward for Cowdenbeath, on loan from Pollok. Russell came through the youth teams at Annan Athletic and Rangers before making a fe ...

rejected the contract extension in order to sign a two-year contract with

Livingston Livingston may refer to: Businesses * Livingston Energy Flight, an Italian airline (2003–2010) * Livingston Compagnia Aerea, an Italian airline (2011–2014), also known as Livingston Airline * Livingston International, a North American custom ...

. Moore signed ex-Queen of the South

striker Striker or The Strikers may refer to: People *A participant in a strike action *A participant in a hunger strike *Blacksmith's striker, a type of blacksmith's assistant *Striker's Independent Society, the oldest mystic krewe in America People wi ...

Stewart Kean Stewart Kean (born 4 March 1983) is a Scottish former professional footballer. Kean played professionally for Ayr United, St Mirren, Queen of the South, Greenock Morton and Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Professional Football League. Kean also ...

July

With just over a week until the competitive games begin, Morton sign defender Grant Evans on loan from Hamilton Accies. New contracts were given to youngsters

Ryan Kane Ryan Kane (born 26 November 1991 in Glasgow) is a Scottish footballer who plays for Clyde in the Scottish Third Division. He began his career with Scottish First Division side Greenock Morton. He went on loan to Glenafton Athletic in 2010, wi ...

and Nathan Shepherd.

David MacGregor David MacGregor (born 9 June 1981) is a Scottish former Association football, footballer who is currently U20s assistant manager at Stranraer F.C., Stranraer. MacGregor started his career with home town club Greenock Morton F.C., Greenock Mor ...

was given another years contract with the club. This will coincide with his testimonial year at Morton.

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

trialists Fouad Bachirou and Tarik Bengelloun were signed on one-year deals. It turned out however that Bengelloun required to serve a lengthy suspension for a bottle throwing incident in France, so the contract offer was rescinded. Bengelloun later returned to France to sign for

Racing In sport, racing is a competition of speed, in which competitors try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific goa ...

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

. Stuart McCaffrey was signed on a one-year deal from

St Johnstone St Johnstone Football Club is a professional association football club in Perth, Scotland which is a member of the Scottish Premiership for the 2022–23 season. The club's name is derived from St John's Toun ''aka'' Saint Johnstoun – an old ...

to take the squad to 22. Ryan McWilliams was released, and signed for

Second Division In sport, the Second Division, also called Division 2 or Division II is usually the second highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Following the rise of Premier League style compet ...

Ayr United.

August

Morton exited both the

Scottish League Cup The Scottish League Cup (also known as the Viaplay Cup for sponsorship reasons) is a football competition open to all Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) clubs. First held in 1946–47, it is the oldest national League Cup in existen ...

and

Scottish Challenge Cup The Scottish Professional Football League Challenge Cup,Ross County respectively. In their match against Raith Rovers, Morton gave ex-Dundee fullback Eddie Malone a start as a trialist. Neil MacFarlane was released to allow room for one more player to come in to the squad. MacFarlane eventually signed for Annan Athletic in the

Third Division In sport, the Third Division, also called Division 3, Division Three, or Division III, is often the third-highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Association football *Belgian Thir ...

September

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language * Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Fo ...

loaned local youngster

Sean Fitzharris Sean Fitzharris (born 13 October 1991, in Greenock) is a Scottish association football, football player, who plays for East Kilbride F.C., East Kilbride in the Lowland Football League. Fitzharris came through the youth academies of both halves ...

to Morton on 10 September after he scored a brace against them in a 4–0 Celtic victory at

Lennoxtown training centre Lennoxtown Training Centre is Celtic F.C.'s training centre, located at Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire in Scotland. The complex houses the club's training and educational facilities. Background Lennoxtown was designed to replace Celtic's former ...

Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...

ian striker

Jonathan Toto Jonathan Toto (born 30 March 1990) is a French former professional footballer who played as a forward. An Metz youth product, Toto began his senior career in Cameroon with Canon Yaoundé before moving to Italy to sign for Legnano. He moved t ...

signed until January, when he is expected to sign for

Scottish Premier League The Scottish Premier League (SPL) was the top level league competition for professional football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football' ...

side Hearts. Ex-

Falkirk Falkirk ( gd, An Eaglais Bhreac, sco, Fawkirk) is a large town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a ...

and Hibs

midfielder A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundarie ...

Patrick Cregg was brought in on trial and made his début against Ross County alongside Toto, Cregg was signed by rivals St Mirren.

October

and Nathan Shepherd joined

Ayrshire Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of Re ...

junior side

Glenafton Athletic Glenafton Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football club, based in New Cumnock, Ayrshire. Members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they play in the West of Scotland Football League. The club has won the Scottish Junior Cup twice ...

on loan, and made their debuts in a 6–3 victory over

Bellshill Athletic Bellshill Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the town of Bellshill, North Lanarkshire. It plays in the . History The history of the club can be traced back as far as 1897 when Bellshill Athletic were founded as a Juve ...

. Darren Young joined the club as a trialist and made his first appearance from the bench in the draw at Cowdenbeath. Morton were drawn away to near neighbours Dumbarton, the fifth cup meeting between the pair in two seasons.

November

Darren Young signed on a short-term contract until the end of 2010.

December

Stewart Greacen Stewart Greacen (born 31 March 1982) is a Scottish retired footballer who played as a central defender. Greacen started his career as a youth player with Rangers, before making his first competitive appearances with Airdrieonians. Following on ...

who had been at the club since 2003 (and had a previous loan spell at Cappielow) was released. Jonathan Toto also left the club (signing for Etoile FC in March). After the release of Greacen freed up funds (he signed for

Derry City Derry, officially Londonderry (), is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and the fifth-largest city on the island of Ireland. The name ''Derry'' is an anglicisation of the Old Irish name (modern Irish: ) meaning 'oak grove'. The ...

in February 2011), Darren Young was offered a new contract to the end of the season. Young signed the new contract, and the loan of Grant Evans was also extended until the end of the season.

January

Morton were drawn against

in the

Scottish Cup The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,Beith Beith is a small town in the Garnock Valley, North Ayrshire, Scotland approximately south-west of Glasgow. The town is situated on the crest of a hill and was known originally as the "''Hill o' Beith''" (hill of the birches) after its ''Court ...

3–4 in a replay at Bellsdale Park. Sean Fitzharris was loaned again from Celtic for the remainder of the season.

Derek Lyle Derek Lyle (born 13 February 1981) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a striker for Open Goal Broomhill and is also the club's assistant manager. Lyle has previously played for Partick Thistle, Queen of the South ''(two spells)'', Dundee ...

was signed on a free transfer from Hamilton, which the manager stated would be the last incoming transfer of the season. In their re-arranged Scottish Cup fourth round tie at Cappielow, Morton battled back from 0–2 down, with ten men, to salvage a draw and earn a replay at the Excelsior Stadium. The replay in Airdrie finished 5–2 to Morton, allowing them to progress to the fifth round to play

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club, commonly known as Caley Thistle, is a professional football club based in Inverness, Scotland. The team currently competes in the Scottish Championship, the second tier of the Scottish Professional F ...

at the

Caledonian Stadium Caledonian Stadium is a football ground in the Longman area of Inverness, Scotland, near the banks of the Moray Firth. It hosts home matches of Scottish Professional Football League club Inverness Caledonian Thistle. History Inverness Caledon ...

February

Morton were eliminated from the Scottish Cup, after being annihilated 5–1 by Inverness, with new boy Lyle scoring a late consolation.

March

Morton youngster Declan McDaid (aged 15) became the centre of transfer speculation, and a rejected £35,000 bid from Celtic, with

Aston Villa Aston Villa Football Club is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club competes in the , the top tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1874, they have played at their home ground, Villa Park ...

and

Sunderland Sunderland () is a port city in Tyne and Wear, England. It is the City of Sunderland's administrative centre and in the Historic counties of England, historic county of County of Durham, Durham. The city is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is on t ...

also scouting him.

April

Derek Lyle was arrested by Strathclyde Police, as part of Operation Neptune, on suspicion of possession of controlled substances at his home in

Bishopbriggs Bishopbriggs ( sco, The Briggs; gd, Achadh an Easbaig) is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the northern fringe of Greater Glasgow, approximately from the Glasgow city centre, city centre. Shires of Scotland, Historically in ...

. This later was confirmed to be "possession with intent to supply", a much more serious charge for which he and partner Nicola Mullen (29) were released on bail pending full committal. Morton were confirmed as safe from automatic relegation on 10 April, when

failed to beat Dundee; condemning themselves to play in the

next season.

Michael Tidser Michael Tidser (born 15 January 1990) is a Scottish footballer and coach, who is currently manager of Scottish League One side Kelty Hearts. Tidser began his career with Celtic, before spending a short spell in Sweden with Östersunds FK. Tidse ...

signed a new three-year contract with the club.

May

Kevin McKinlay,

, Kevin Cuthbert, Darren Young, Graeme Holmes and Stewart Kean were all told they would be released in a mass clear-out. First choice centre-back pairing Stuart McCaffrey and Marc Smyth signed new one-year deals. Derek Lyle was told he would not receive a new contract in the summer, but a new deal was tabled for

Carlo Monti Carlo Monti (24 March 1920 – 7 April 2016) was an Italian athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres. He won two medals, one individual and one relay, in List of international athletics championships and games, international athletics compe ...

. Colin Stewart signed a new one-year contract. Morton finished the season in seventh place after a disappointing defeat to already relegated

at the Doubletree Dunblane Stadium.

First team transfers

*From end of 2009–10 season, to last match of season 2010–11

In

Out

Squad (that played for first team)

Fixtures and results

Friendlies An exhibition game (also known as a friendly, a scrimmage, a demonstration, a preseason game, a warmup match, or a preparation match, depending at least in part on the sport) is a sporting event whose prize money and impact on the player's or ...

Challenge Cup The Challenge Cup is a knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League, held annually since 1896, with the exception of 1915–1919 and 1939–1940, due to World War I and World War II respectively. It involves am ...