MORTON manager Jim Duffy has arranged for two trialists to come up from England for pre-season training — and says he is also working towards clinching a couple of new signings.

The Ton boss has retained 15 members of last season’s first-team squad, 11 of whom have signed new contracts with their present deals originally set to expire this summer.

In terms of new recruits, Duffy has agreed terms with St Johnstone right-back Michael Doyle and is busy conducting further transfer business as he looks to bolster his team for next term.

He told the Tele: “We’ve got a couple of possibilities in the pipeline at the moment and we’re trying to get them done but they could go either way.

“The fact I’m away on holiday at the moment is immaterial. 

“You’re still on the phone, on emails — you’re always contactable — so there are one or two things we’re exploring.

“I also have a couple of boys coming up for pre-season from down south that I’ve already organised.

“They’re both English boys, one is a midfield player and one is a front player, a striker – but I can’t give out their names at this moment in time.

“They’ll be coming up as trialists. I do know of them and have checked them out, so they’re boys I’m aware of; we’ll get them up, have a wee look at them as they join in training and take it from there.”

Out-of-contract forward Stefan McCluskey recently confirmed he would be rejecting an extension and moving on to pastures new after two seasons with the Ton.

Duffy signed the 25-year-old from junior outfit Shotts Bon Accord in his time as Clyde boss and then brought him to Cappielow in the summer of 2014.

After four years working together, the Greenock gaffer took time to express his gratitude for the service McCluskey had given.

He said: “Stef has decided to look elsewhere but we thank him for his contributions over the last two seasons with Morton.

“He always gave 100 per cent, did a lot of unselfish work off the ball, was a real team player and I wish him well.”