MORTON boss Jim Duffy has revealed that he’s in the market for ‘three or four’ fresh faces as he prepares to have another crack at promotion next season.

Having already signed Dumbarton striker Robert Thomson on a pre-contract deal earlier this year, Duffy today hinted that he’s on the lookout for at least one more forward.

With several stars leaving the club earlier this month, including Conor Pepper, Jamie McDonagh and Jon Scullion, as well as loan aces Jamie Lindsay and Aidan Nesbitt returning to parent club Celtic, Ton are a bit light on numbers in most positions going into the summer holidays.

Chief executive Warren Hawke recently told the Tele that the club will increase their manager’s budget to help him bring in some new players and Duffy acknowledges the need to bolster his squad for the coming season.

And the gaffer insists he’s not wasting any time scouring the leagues for new gems.

He said: “It’s not quite as big a rebuilding job as we’ve had in the last couple of years but we’ll still look to bring in three or four players.

“We signed Robert Thomson on a pre-contract several months ago and I think he’ll be a really important player for us. He did really well for Dumbarton and helped to keep them in the Championship and he knows the league. 

“He’s still only 23-years-old and he’s a different type of player from what we’ve had. Jai Quitongo is 100 per cent fit now. He’s itching — he was itching at the play-offs — but we’ve had to hold him back. But he’s like a new player for us. 

“So straight away we’ve got two options that we didn’t have last year at that end of the pitch and we’re looking to maybe add another one.

“We’re in a positive situation now, everyone can enjoy the summer and be optimistic to the start of the new season when it comes along.”

Ton offered new contracts to five different players last week, with midfielder Andy Murdoch putting pen to paper on a new one-year contract extension on Thursday.

Duffy now hopes to have his other key men tied down in order to build on what they have — and get a clearer indication as soon as possible on what they need in terms of recruitment numbers going into next season.

Duffy said: “Most of the guys have agreed contracts. We had 11 out of contract, we let a few go and we offered contracts to five players. 

“Andy Murdoch has agreed to sign for us again, which is terrific. He’s been magnificent since he came to the club, a real fans’ favourite and a players’ favourite. So we’re delighted he’s going to sign on again.

“I’m still waiting on Ricki Lamie, Mark Russell, Michael Tidser and Michael Doyle but we’ll hopefully get some word back from them this week.

"Then we’ll have a clear indication on what we need to bring in. If these guys sign, it helps you but if they don’t, you have to look at these kind of areas.”