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Must say I have been very quick to criticize the club for the speed at which they make change/improvements, but for me this is a real watershed moment for the new General Manager, he has not been at the club long and has identified an actual plan to address in the short term. improving the speed of the gates will help for every match so that's positive all round. Working with the BBC to minimize the camera impact is also another great step. Long may the improvements continue, and open communication like this from the club. Lets hope they address the issues with the stewards next, there are too many to list but as an example, they only have 1 master key to override the turnstiles (surly they can have more!) and then the steward with it walking away from the gates for nearly 5 minutes, with multiple people unable to get in backing up the queue.

https://gmfc.net/stadium-update-for-supporters/?fbclid=IwAR27QmyFR8LG6SzBJYZx7xMwSVbjt99pMrrQhlpkoOvL3waEbJwQpvGD9Xg_aem_ASJZOJJ7Ewym1nuWwdCDm01xeorg0Ni9nA_cFyl-riWV3_pKX9lzLWK2v-MFwwA2Krc great news

King is 19, hardly time running out. Just no place for him in the team at the minute.

Wee neds will gob on it.

I've suggested the following via email to Dale, as yet I've had no reply, but given he's probably been involved in contract negotiations and the turnstile issue I'm not about to kick up a fuss about that. My proposal is that they remove three rows of the breeze block wall at the back of the Cowshed in front of the toilets and pie stall, and replace them with perspex windows, thereby allowing those queuing to still see the game while they wait. The wall in its current form does not support any of the shed roof and therefore should have no impact on the structure itself. As far as I can see, this shouldn't be to expensive to do and would enhance the overall match day experience. How many of us have missed an important period of play or goal, while queuing? I know this was suggested sometime ago but never taken forward for whatever reason.

The proof will be in it working come the day of the Motherwell game, but it's great to see the club addressing issues. While the size of queues has been a recurring issue for years, a massive delay has happened once since the new General Manager arrived and we're seeing a quick response to solve this. Halving the size of the gantry will go a long way in the Cowshed on the night as well, with a bigger crowd than usual for televised games meaning there's no chance everyone is going to fit into the other half of the Shed.

That’s a very positive step forward. Good that the club are listening and that they’ve responded quickly.

This is definitely true. When I lived in The Netherlands I played in an amateur 35+ 5-a-side (or zalvoetbal as they call it) league in a wee town called Groesbeek, right on the the German border. We were all just your very average recreational players, except for one guy in our team who had played for the local semi-professional team De Treffers, who hover around the 3rd and 4th tiers of the Dutch league pyramid. He was by far the oldest in the team, I think we has around 50 at the time, but was by a huge margin our best player, even though we were mostly 10-15 years younger than him and he probably only put in half the effort.

My own experience is they do not have to be top-level pros. Retired players from the seaside leagues still stand out a mile. They might not all run around as much as before but generally their touch and game awareness sets them apart from the DOT's of this world.

"Astonishing" really is the word when you see actual top-level pros having a kickabout. I don't mean marginal guys but the absolute top-level internationals, they can be pushing 50 and unfit but you can tell immediately they aren't like mortal men. No doubt they worked hard to have the career they did but it would also be deeply obvious that they just "had it" and if they applied themselves they'd go on to great things.

I was joking, but never mind. Here goes. A bit of background. Those that have been around since the Topica days will know that I worked in the Philippines in the late 90s and played in the Philippine National League for two seasons - it was a mix of quality, with a few better players possibly Lowland League level. I was in the lower end quality wise, but was a reasonable finisher. The club I played for had the best playing facilities in the country, as it was part of a sports club complex. My colleague from the Dutch Embassy organised a tour by the Ajax/Feyernoord old boys to the Philippines. I got a place on the League select team bench for the match and got on for 10 minutes at the end. Rep played up front for them and was astonishing. He barely moved, everything stuck, every pass hit his target and he scored 3. I went up to him at the end of the match and in a proper creepy fanboy told him that he'd made me cry as an 8 year old. His quality response was, in a classic comedy Dutch accent "Yesh, I meet many Shcottish people. They all tell me that. Let me buy you a beer." He got a case in and told us all about the plan in 1978 and what they could cope with. They always felt that they could score if they needed to, and that they thought Rough was the weak link. But the Gemmell goal spooked them, hence his long shot. He was a top man.

You said "I later told my close friend since teenage years, John McMaster, and he told me it took him 7 years to get into Aberdeen’s first team." According to McMaster's book and Wikipedia "McMaster signed for Aberdeen in 1972 at the age of 17, and was loaned out for a full season to Peterhead in the Highland League. He broke into the Aberdeen first team in the 74/75 season and then played 21 games in the 75/76 season, when he was 20." Who are we to believe?

Blues plays whatever position he's asked to the best of his ability and rarely if ever let's the team down. Every squad needs a player like him that the manager knows he can rely on and will follow his tactical instructions. I do think there have been a couple of times over the years when he's been off his form that a week or two out the team would help him but I can always see why Imrie keeps him in the team. I'm a massive fan and become a bigger fan every year he's been at Morton.

Was glad to read the latest MCT statement regarding the current and future involvement of Graham McLennan. Having had a few dealings with him over the last few years I have a lot of respect for his enthusiasm and belief in MCT and GMFC. He really spearheaded getting the club towards its current position and galvanised so many others to support the vision of a great community club. Wishing him all the best with his health.

The new GM has been one of the star signings of the season so far. Has good experience, probably helps we have someone in that position that will have contacts in these areas to get things done. Seems a nice guy too as a bonus. In similar news, a friend of mine that works in the local leisure industry passed on that they had an Irish side asking for use of their facilities in the summer. Not a team like Linfield, a rather forgettable side it seems as he cannot recall who. Assuming we are getting pre season organised correctly too.