THE curtain comes down on Morton’s season tomorrow afternoon as they make the short trip to Lanarkshire for a final day clash against promotion play-off contenders Hamilton Accies.

It’s a match which will also spell the end of Morton’s seven-year stay in the second tier of Scottish football.

The teams they leave behind can look forward to games with Hearts, Rangers and possibly a second team currently playing its football in the top flight.

While those clubs dine out on a diet of clashes against big names and reap the financial rewards, Morton’s attentions will turn to more spartan venues like Brechin’s Glebe Park.

There is no mistaking the fact that this has been one of the worst seasons in the club’s history.

A late rally towards the end of the campaign has seen the team pick up a series of clean-sheet victories at Cappielow.

They continued their decent form with a draw at home to Falkirk last Saturday but despite this they remain fully 13 points adrift at the foot of the table, illustrating just how poorly they had performed beforehand.

Last Saturday’s result meant that they had thwarted a title-chasing club for the second week in succession.

This prompted plenty of head scratching from afar, given that their earlier record had given no hint whatsoever that they were capable of producing such results.

But these results have come when the pressure is off, with the team’s fate already sealed and players’ minds sharply focused on the need to secure contracts for next season, whether here or elsewhere.

The positive displays have arrived long after the damage was done and have merely provided a bit of window dressing, a cloak of semi-respectability.

In that context, they must be treated with a degree of scepticism when it comes to assessing things for next term.

One would hope that the management team will take a hard-headed approach about reshaping things for an assault on the League One title.

Over the piece, Morton have failed miserably and surely this is what will be taken into account most when it comes to deciding on who stays and who goes.

There is, at least, some certainty now in that Kenny Shiels has been confirmed this week as the man who will be in charge.

It would be fair to say that the Northern Irishman did not initially get the kind of results expected of him when he took charge, with things initially deteriorating.

This sparked a warning from chairman Douglas Rae that the ex-Kilmarnock manager’s position would be reviewed at the end of the campaign — but to his credit he took that on the chin and it now seems that everyone is much more comfortable with his work, and the recovery plans he is putting in place.

Shiels will go into the new campaign with a full time set-up to work with, and that is something he will be mightily relieved about.

This should give Ton an advantage over the other teams in the division next term and it is one they have to make the most of.

Player recruitment over the summer is going to be absolutely vital.

As members of the current squad exit, new blood will come in — and as well as having a good level of ability, they will have to be the right types and equipped with the correct mentality for the challenges which lie ahead.

A manager ultimately lives or dies by the quality of the players he signs and Ton fans will be watching closely to see who Shiels goes after during the summer once he has freed up some room in his squad.

As has been well documented in these pages over recent weeks, there is also, of course, a bigger picture to consider about the club just now — and that is its overall strategic planning and where it is headed.

There is no getting away from the fact that Morton have, for the most part, struggled badly in their seven seasons back in the First Division.

They have toiled while watching similarly-sized clubs make advances which they have been unable to match.

Ton now find themselves right back in the same division they were 13 years ago when Douglas Rae, rescued the club from administration.

Since that deal was completed in 2001, a considerable amount of money has been invested for not a hell of a lot in return. That should pose a number of questions about the club and why it continues to arguably punch well beneath its weight. Getting back into the Championship at the first time of asking would obviously be great for everyone associated with the club. But there is a need to ensure — if it happens — that it does not merely lead to another false dawn which drains away the feel-good factor which winning promotion can bring.

Issues like this are important and they will need to be addressed by those in charge following a dismal campaign which everyone connected with the club will, frankly, be glad to see the back of at 4.45pm tomorrow.

TEAM LATEST KENNY Shiels will be without long-term absentees Reece Hands, Ben Sampayo, David O’Brien and Marc Fitzpatrick, who have all featured for the last time this season.

Speaking after last Saturday’s draw with Falkirk, Derek Gaston had hoped to recover from a thigh injury, but manager Shiels expects his goalkeeper to remain sidelined, with Under-17s shot-stopper Lewis McIntyre taking a place on the bench.

However, Garry O’Connor is expected to be available for selection.

The striker was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench against the Bairns last weekend and should make the matchday squad to face title-chasing Hamilton.

TRAVEL NOTES THE Albert Hotel Morton Supporters are now taking bookings for the bus to New Douglas Park for the final Scottish Championship tie against Hamilton Accies tomorrow.

The bus will leave the hotel at 1.45pm. Bus prices are £7 for adults and £5 for concessions. All are welcome with pick-ups available en-route.

To book a seat call or text Jim on 07983 600945. Jim, Sean and the rest of the committee would like to thank both regular travellers and visitors for their support during what was a testing season for Morton fans.

Fans’ support is very much appreciated and the committee look forward to welcoming supporters all back in 2014-15 for what we hope will be a title-winning season.

THE Greenock Morton Supporters’ Club bus to the Hamilton Accies game tomorrow will leave the Morton Supporters’ Club at 1.30pm with pick-ups en-route.

Anyone wishing a seat on this bus can call John on 07909 997071. Prices are £7 and £5 (concessions). Would all travel section members please note the AGM will take place at 12.30pm before heading off to Hamilton.