DEREK Gaston is ready to challenge for the number one jersey at Morton after the goalkeeper signed a new one-year extension.

The 31-year-old is the club’s current longest serving player, entering his seventh year at Cappielow after being signed from Albion Rovers back in 2012 by Allan Moore.

With Conor Brennan being released by the club and Ray McKinnon revealing to the Tele last week he wanted two experienced goalkeepers in his squad for next season, Gaston is likely to face a fight to be first choice goalkeeper.

The shotstopper is keen to impress the new manager from the start, as he looks to stake his claim to be Ton’s starting goalkeeper.

Gaston told the Tele: “As soon as I got offered a new deal at Morton, I always wanted to stay.

“I’ve been here for six years and I really enjoy it, and as soon as they came in and offered me a contract it was an easy decision to stay on again for another season.

“Ray said he was going to be signing another goalkeeper. 

“That was pretty evident when he let Conor go and he said he was going to bring in a goalkeeper who would be challenging me for the number one position.

“I thought that would be the case anyway and I can’t be complaining too much about that, it’s good for myself if I’ve got a good goalkeeper to challenge me and keep me on my toes.

“If it turns out I’m not number one that’s down to myself and all I can ask for is a fair crack. 

“That’s all I can try and do to make the manager feel like he can play me every week.

“My ambition for this season is to impress the new manager so he sees me as his number one.”

The goalkeeper met with the club yesterday to sign the new deal after a summer of uncertainty at Cappielow.

After Jim Duffy was dismissed at the end of the season, it took over a month for the club to find his replacement in McKinnon.

With all over-23 players contracts on hold until a new boss was installed at the Greenock side, it left a number of players, including Gaston, having to wait to see where their futures lay.

But the goalkeeper now becomes the first member of last season’s squad to re-sign this year, making it a total of six first-team players after Chris Millar became McKinnon’s first new signing earlier in the week.

And Gaston admits he was excited by the new manager’s ambitions for the club.

He said: “I was really impressed with the way he came across and what he had to say and got good first impressions from him, and it looks like I’m going to enjoy working with him.

“Ideally I’d have done it a few weeks ago and I could have relaxed a bit more over the summer. 

“We got there in the end and my future is secure now.”