Keep/release for 2026/27 season

[HamCam]

In the days of old most teams had reserve squads and that was a regular source of players for the first team. Morton also survived on being innovative with the Danes, Yanks and then the Finns together with a healthy dose of ex old firm players. The footballing world has changed though as Trump has explained. Morton has tried it's best to secure some rough diamonds including foraging in the League of Wales and the youth teams of so called big clubs but we only seem adept at only finding fools gold. The reality for most lower league clubs is looking to identify players ideally suited to how a manager wants to play and/or regain their previous level. Imrie had some success with this approach but it was hit and miss. I am just hoping we stay up and Murray has the opportunity to shape his squad to play how he wants to play.

[Mr.Blue]

Shaw in the telegraph today saying he is in the dark about his future at the club. Can't see the whole article but good to hear.

[Cet Homme Charmant]

On 4/13/2026 at 6:45 PM, HamCam said:

In the days of old most teams had reserve squads and that was a regular source of players for the first team. Morton also survived on being innovative with the Danes, Yanks.....

The only Americans I can recall are Dave Brcic, who only actually played 6 first-team games, and Ron Atanasio who played precisely 0 first-team games. 

Despite only playing a hand-full of games, Brcic was a bit of a cult hero at the time. I think that was more due to the fact he came from the NY Cosmos and was a bit glamorous, rather than anything to do with actual ability. My recollection of him is he was a decent enough shot-stopper, but was a bomb-scare with cross balls and had terrible positional sense. The fact that his subsequent career was exclusively in indoor football would tend to support that assessment.

[Boogs49]

1 hour ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

The only Americans I can recall are Dave Brcic, who only actually played 6 first-team games, and Ron Atanasio who played precisely 0 first-team games. 

Despite only playing a hand-full of games, Brcic was a bit of a cult hero at the time. I think that was more due to the fact he came from the NY Cosmos and was a bit glamorous, rather than anything to do with actual ability. My recollection of him is he was a decent enough shot-stopper, but was a bomb-scare with cross balls and had terrible positional sense. The fact that his subsequent career was exclusively in indoor football would tend to support that assessment.

After he left us there was an urban myth going around that he had been killed in a car accident, don't know how that started but definitely not true, still going strong at 68

[Cet Homme Charmant]

18 minutes ago, Boogs49 said:

After he left us there was an urban myth going around that he had been killed in a car accident, don't know how that started but definitely not true, still going strong at 68

Mibbe started by the same guy who put out the rumour that we're struggling to pay the wages this month

Edited April 16 by Cet Homme Charmant

[Cet Homme Charmant]

Not sure why Ron Atanasio didn't get a game with the first team, he also came from the NY Cosmos at the same time as Dave. I saw him in a reserve game and I thought he looked decent. He played that game on the wing, IIRC. Can only assume Benny didn't rate him or he picked up an injury

Edited April 16 by Cet Homme Charmant

[AyrshireTon]

On 4/16/2026 at 3:27 PM, Cet Homme Charmant said:

The only Americans I can recall are Dave Brcic, who only actually played 6 first-team games, and Ron Atanasio who played precisely 0 first-team games. 

Despite only playing a hand-full of games, Brcic was a bit of a cult hero at the time. I think that was more due to the fact he came from the NY Cosmos and was a bit glamorous, rather than anything to do with actual ability. My recollection of him is he was a decent enough shot-stopper, but was a bomb-scare with cross balls and had terrible positional sense. The fact that his subsequent career was exclusively in indoor football would tend to support that assessment.

Funny, I can remember Brcic being very good with crosses (although I only had Connaghan to compare him with). Was a bit naive, giving a dead ball to the opposition corner taker too quickly etc.

Played a blinder in the 1-0 win over Celtic.

[Mr Toon]

21 hours ago, AyrshireTon said:

Funny, I can remember Brcic being very good with crosses (although I only had Connaghan to compare him with). Was a bit naive, giving a dead ball to the opposition corner taker too quickly etc.

Played a blinder in the 1-0 win over Celtic.

That is as I remember him too, coming out of his goal and taking crosses a distance from his line totally unexpected in Scottish Football. It was maybe a bit naive but I can't remember any disasters and I found it refreshing.

[Cet Homme Charmant]

If you watch the video of the 2-2 draw at home to plucky wee Partick, he could have done better with both goals (maybe I'm being a bit harsh on the 1st one as the defence in front of him was certainly far more at fault than he was). In mitigation, the pitch was frozen solid and it was like playing on concrete. As a side note, this game was shown nationwide in the UK on ITV's Big Match as well as Scotsport, as this game and Leicester City's were the only two that survived the big freeze that weekend. 

Like I said, he was a decent shot stopper (IIRC he saved a penalty at Pittodrie), but in other aspects of the game he was weak, IMO. But he was for sure entertaining and he certainly brought a bit of good ol' American razzmatazz.

[ConTon74]

On 3/27/2026 at 3:31 PM, ConTon74 said:

From what I’ve seen this season excluding loan players,

Keep: Ballantyne, Delaney, Longridge, Blues, Wilson. Brophy, Moore, Robertson & Murdoch are already contracted.

Release: Comrie, Crawford, Moffat, Garrity, McKay, Shaw, O’Halloran

Undecided: Gillespie, Taylor, Owens, MacPherson

Updated version with a wrap on 25/26:

Already contracted for 26/27: Moore, Murdoch, Robertson, Longridge, Brophy. 
Personally I’d try shift Brophy on, he’s too injury prone & probably on a decent wage so that could be used elsewhere. 
 

Keep: Ballantyne, Delaney, Wilson, Blues, MacPherson, Owens

Release: Comrie, Crawford, Moffat, Garrity, Shaw, McKay, O’Halloran, Gillespie, Taylor. 
 

I can see Murray signing Main permanently. Storer I’d love to have back but could easily play at a higher level so I wish him all the best for the future. 
Wouldn’t take any of the other loanees back. 

[tondaft1874]

Already signed: Moore, Longbridge, Brophy, Robertson.

Keep: Ballantyne, Comrie, Delaney(back up), Owens, Wilson, Blues, Moffat, Garrity(back up)

Loans ending: Storer, Lopata-White, Johnson, Main, Lyall

Release: MacPherson, Taylor, Gillespie, McKay, Shaw, Crawford, O'Halloran

If Delaney is released and we sign strapp i wouldn't be fussed. Moffat has no final product but runs himself into the ground and is direct. If we can replace with better then fine. Same with garrity I acrually think he's looked better this season although not contributed much in terms of G/A

 

Edited May 2 by tondaft1874

[Charles_Joe]

Two things I’m convinced of. 
Shaw is a centre forward. He can be this levels Harry Kane. 
Moore is a defensive mid. 
 

I’d be fine with everyone that isn’t signed leaving, bar Storer as the obvious exception. 

[DumfriesTon]

Rumours are that Raith’s Scott Brown is coming to us. I’ve also heard that the Clyde keeper is signing for us but that might be rubbish. 
 

Keep: Ballantyne, Owens, Wilson, Blues (maybe)

Release: the rest

[TopCat]

Survival update. Ross County and St Johnstone exiting the league and Livi and (probably) Inverness entering reduces the average financial clout of the league but puts us in more direct competition for players with another 2 clubs. 

Keep: all of the Dalrada-funded contracts, Owens, Wilson, ask the question for Storer.

Maybe (depending on budget to fund better and availability): Blues, Ballantyne, Comrie.

Release: the rest 

[dunning1874]

Wilson, Ballantyne, Blues and (fitness dependent) Owens are the only keeps for me, assuming there's no chance of any loanees other than Main (the only one out of contract) returning.

Grouping some of the players together, my thoughts are:

Ballantyne/Comrie - I think you can only justify keeping one of them, and they're not massively dissimilar in that they're both generally competent Championship players who will every so often have a worldy and sometimes have a complete shocker out of nowhere. I don't think Comrie is a bad player, but ultimately Ballantyne at his best is better than Comrie at his best while Comrie's shockers are much more frequent.

Delaney - one of the players who's undoubtedly improved under Murray, but I don't think he's improved enough to justify a new deal. The answer to whether we can realistically get an upgrade on him without needing to throw stupid money at a player who might have offers from bigger spenders is yes, so try to do so.

Owens - I think he's looked really good and on ability alone I'd have no doubts about keeping him, but there's a question mark about his fitness. With a full pre-season behind him will he be able to handle 90 minutes every week? He's injured just now and maybe that's only a wee knock, but when you're talking about a 22 year old who's already had 18 months out after an ACL injury then sadly you have to ask the question.

Wilson - the obvious player to keep and build the team around - in midfield - but sadly I'm sure he'll have interest from elsewhere. It's probably been the case that only his injury record has kept him here in previous seasons when he's good enough to start for most teams in the division, but he's never managed more than 25 league games for us before with how often he gets injured. This season he's stayed fit all the way through, playing 35 league games (the only one he missed was Davies dropping him) with over 40 in all competitions, so that concern about fitness can more easily be disregarded by other clubs. There's every chance he's desperate to go himself as well so he can escape Murray's idiocy and play for a manager who'll actually pick him in midfield. Would be ecstatic to keep him but surprised.

Blues - I think he's a very useful player to have at this point. Play him in a system where he can be allowed off the leash to properly go box to box rather than needing to sit deep and you'll see more goals from him, he's scored some crackers lately and he does add more to his game with every passing season, while having a player in a more advanced position who can actually put in a defensive shift is sorely needed.

Gillespie - if you're keeping Wilson & Blues (with Robertson under contract as well) then you need to leave some room for upgrades in the middle of the park and I think it's time to say thank you and goodbye here, before he has a season like Crawford this year. When we signed him after he was released by Queen's Park having been a bit part player for them in League 1 I don't think anyone would have guessed he'd be a crucial player for us for 4 seasons, he's been a great servant but he'll be 35 before next season starts and he already struggles to play 90 minutes. He's started every game he's been available for under Murray and I don't think you can go into next season expecting him to play 30+ games never mind start that many, so sign someone who can.

MacPherson - another who undoubtedly improved under Murray, but then got injured as he was hitting his stride. If he'd stayed fit and maintained the level of performance he was showing in the few games before getting injured you'd have to give him a deal, at Somerset in particular he was excellent, but while you can't release a player just for being injured for a month it does mean the sample size of games he was actually good in is very small. You'd be giving him a contract on the basis that he could maintain that standard of performance from 3 or 4 really decent games, when for months before that he'd shown nothing to justify a contract. Under Imrie he improved from his abysmal start at the club, but the improvement was still merely to mediocrity and no one would have had him on their keep list in January. Combined with his own fitness track record - he last managed 25 games in a season in 20/21 - I think that small sample size of good games just makes it too risky a signing. You give Wilson contracts despite his injury record because you know for sure that when he's fit he'll be one of your best players, we don't know that with MacPherson and the small good run pre-injury could just be a purple patch.

Taylor & Crawford - Murray clearly doesn't fancy Taylor and this was a season too far for Crawford. Both obvious releases.

Garrity, Shaw & Moffat - release the lot of them. Moffat & Shaw have both been better under Murray than they were under Imrie but there's still not enough end product from either of them. Amazed to see people in the match thread saying Shaw was alright last night, he was atrocious and it was the epitome of everything wrong with him (though he's obviously blameless for the spell that Murray had him in holding midfield). Skinning a full-back to drive into a dangerous position once in 90 minutes doesn't justify being a passenger outwith that 10 seconds, particularly when the final ball from that extremely dangerous position was predictably terrible anyway. There's not a chance another club at this level is having him. Moffat's definitely better on the right than the left but he still ultimately doesn't deliver enough.

I've been a bigger fan of Garrity than a lot of people over the last couple of years but I don't think there's any justification for keeping him at this point. He's been the worst of the three under Murray, since scoring away to Airdrie I don't think he's had a single good performance and you simply can't play that badly for that long and be rewarded with a contract. He was our top scorer last season and is our second top scorer in this one so it's easier to make an end product argument stand up for him than the other two, but it's not enough to justify how poor he's been lately.

O'Halloran - when we signed him we all feared we were getting another Niall McGinn and credit where due, he's been much better than that. He's still had more bad games than good though, being very good last night and using his brain where no one else was doesn't cancel out the games where he's appeared and looked totally lost like Arbroath. While you see flashes of the footballing intelligence that had him at a much higher level once  which Garrity, Moffat & Shaw simply don't possess, he's not a player who can be starting in the Championship at this point so move on.

McKay - does Murray know he exists? Is there any indication of when he'll be fit again? Wouldn't have anything against telling him to come in for pre-season if fit to see if he can earn a contract as cheap cover as he's probably on buttons, but you'd obviously be letting him go as it stands.

Main - we've already got one centre forward signed up who's the wrong side of 30, injury prone, sometimes really good at dropping deep to bring players into the game but misses more sitters than he scores and is capable of howling 90 minutes where he looks like he's never seen a football before, we don't need another while Brophy is the better of the two.

Obviously I'm being facetious and there's a physical profile with Main that makes him a different option from Brophy in some ways, but I really don't think you can justify having both of them and Main's performances aren't deserving of a contract.

[SpoonTon]

1 hour ago, ConTon74 said:

Updated version with a wrap on 25/26:

Already contracted for 26/27: Moore, Murdoch, Robertson, Longridge, Brophy. 
Personally I’d try shift Brophy on, he’s too injury prone & probably on a decent wage so that could be used elsewhere. 
 

Keep: Ballantyne, Delaney, Wilson, Blues, MacPherson, Owens

Release: Comrie, Crawford, Moffat, Garrity, Shaw, McKay, O’Halloran, Gillespie, Taylor. 
 

I can see Murray signing Main permanently. Storer I’d love to have back but could easily play at a higher level so I wish him all the best for the future. 
Wouldn’t take any of the other loanees back. 

I'm assuming Brophy's contract is one of those funded by Dalrada. I'm guessing that means it wouldn't free up any funds to move him on. 

[RossMcC1874]

Wilson, Ballantyne, Blues, Owens and Delaney should all be kept for me. 

Moffat im in two minds about the work rate has always been there and he has improved under Murray but enough for a new deal? Not sure. 

Release the rest we need a good clear out and a fresh start. 

[so72]

Want to keep Blues. Its so rare to have a player stay this long at Morton and he has popped up with goals across those years. I'm not sure he is a Murray player, but he's good to have at the club.

 

Otherwise, keep Owens and the Dalrada players. If they aren't Dalrada players, I'd be tempted to keep Moffatt and Comrie. Wouldn't keep any of the loanees except Storer but he will move up a level. Hopefully his progress will help show teams that we are a good place for players to come and be tested.

[vikingTON]

Just because some jobber can be underwritten by Dalrada doesn't mean that they should be at the club next season. 

[Chicken_Soup]

Blues, Wilson and Ballantyne are the only ones I’d feel strongly about. Blues continues to be underrated and in a period of significant player turnover, I’d really like to see him stay. Would also keep Owens.
 

I believe O’Halloran coaches our youth team so if he’s continuing in that role, register him as a player again and he can be used as an impact sub/cover. 
 

I like Main. His workrate, hold up play, pressing, link up play is all good and he helps the players around him a lot, both on and off the ball. Last night he was extremely useful in helping us defend set pieces too. But my god his finishing is woeful. I don’t know if I can handle watching a full season of him missing sitters while Brophy sits in the stand.