CAPPIELOW plays host to Morton's final home game of the season tomorrow - but will it be the last time that a full-time team runs out of the home dressing room?

It is an uncomfortable question but one that's difficult to escape at the present moment.

The season may not have ended but the main focus has already switched to off-field matters and the status that Inverclyde's professional football club will have next season.

The uncertainty has been brought about because of a very obvious problem: year-on-year, Morton - like many clubs - are losing money.

With a shortfall in the annual accounts and no immediate prospect of an increase in attendances, chairman Douglas Rae has emphatically indicated that he will no longer fund such a loss-making full-time operation - unless there is change in the way the game is set up.

He is hanging his hat on some form of league reconstruction which would deliver a more progressive redistribution of wealth and put clubs like Morton on a stronger financial footing.

It must be said that such a scenario looks a remote prospect at this time, with Scottish football seemingly engaged in a bloody civil war.

The top flight clubs have failed to find the required majority for a new 12-12-18 set-up and associated changes, while talk of a breakaway SPL2 has also been raised.

Mr Rae joined colleagues at a hastily arranged inter-club summit on Monday night to plot a way forward but the only thing clear in the aftermath of those talks is that time is running out for a solution to be found.

And even if it is, how long will it hold?

Is the search for a new model ignoring the elephant in the room and simply delaying an inevitable change which First Division clubs will eventually have to face up to?

It almost goes without saying that Morton is a club now at a major crossroads and the next few weeks could be critical in determining its prospects for the future.

There is real sympathy for the current crop of players and the coaching staff and other employees who are affected by the immediate confusion.

There is, however, a bigger, more long term picture as well - and it is that Morton's well-established standing in the food chain of Scottish football could be about to change, maybe irrevocably.

Perhaps the best that can be hoped for is that some sort of deal is thrashed out which allows clubs currently penned into the second tier a bit of breathing space where they can find a route to a more sustainable competitive future.

It seems a real shame to be having these sorts of conversations at a time when Morton are about to post their best league finish in 25 years, having already secured second place behind league champions Partick.

Allan Moore, Mark McNally and the rest of the dressing room must feel that their efforts since last summer have been overshadowed by recent events and that's a great pity.

The Greenock men have come up just short this term but it has been a season of substantive improvement - a breakthrough campaign which has seen the club shake off what had become a ritual diet of mid-table mediocrity at best.

But the current climate means that it will be another fortnight - at least - before manager Moore finds out if he will get the chance to build on the progress made, never mind the players.

All he and his men can do is go out and try finish the season strongly - something which had looked in doubt until last Saturday when they recorded a fine 2-0 win at Livingston.

Given the fact that the West Lothian men's HQ has never been a happy hunting ground for Morton, this was an admirable way to put an end to a poor run of three defeats in four games which had ultimately killed off their promotion hopes.

After Moore threatened to wield the axe and introduce younger players, the men who had been questioned following defeat to Dunfermline the previous week were given another opportunity and took it.

With that in mind, the manager is unlikely to stray too far from his previous selection and set-up when Hamilton Accies arrive on Sinclair Street tomorrow.

If there's one side who Morton owe a beating it's definitely the men from New Douglas Park, having lost eight points out of nine against them.

The South Lanarkshire outfit are moving into a new era after the recent departure of long-serving boss Billy Reid and will take to the field fresh from a 2-0 win over Raith, recorded under the guidance of club captain and caretaker coach Alex Neil.

It's been an up and down season for Accies but they sit comfortably in mid-table and over the piece - much like their hosts - they should not be too dissatisfied with their work this term.

The brightest star in the Accies' firmament has been on loan striker Stevie May, whose all-action performances have caused problems for the Morton rearguard this season - trying to shut him out will be the main objective for the home defence.

If they can do that then Ton have the players to give their opponents problems, and ex-Accies midfielder Kyle Wilkie will be keen to carry on the good work from last week up against his old side.

Ton's home crowds could undoubtedly have been better this term but the hardcore who have shown up throughout will be there again tomorrow - hoping for a good send-off before the big off-field issues, and future direction of the club, are settled.

TEAM LATEST PLAYER of the year nominee Michael Tidser misses out again due to an ongoing groin problem, while the match is expected to have come too early for Peter Weatherson, who has featured for the reserves this week as he steps up his recovery from a fractured hand.

Thomas O'Ware played 45 minutes for the reserves last night and will be monitored for a reaction to his hamstring problem before a decision is made on his inclusion in tomorrow's matchday squad.

Fellow defender Willie Dyer was an unused sub at Livingston last weekend, and manager Allan Moore expects the left-back to be fit and available for selection.

Long-term absentee Stephen Stirling remains sidelined and it is unlikely to feature in either of the Morton's remaining matches.

TRAVEL NOTES THE Albert Hotel Morton Supporters' bus for tomorrow's penultimate Irn-Bru League Division One game against Hamilton Accies at Cappielow will leave the hotel at 2.30pm.

Prices are �2.50 for adults return and concessions cost �1.50 return.

No need to pre-book and all welcome.

THE Greenock Morton Supporters' Club player of the year award will take place on Saturday evening at the club in Regent Street.

The players and officials from Morton will be in attendance and all supporters are welcome to attend.

The travel section bus sheet for the final game of the season at Falkirk is up in the club and anyone wishing to travel can call John on 07909 997071.