RICKI Lamie says he enjoyed every minute of his time at Morton, after his departure was confirmed.

The defender, who spent four seasons with the Greenock club, left on Sunday to move to Premiership side Livingston.

He was a mainstay in Jim Duffy’s side last season, and is the ninth departure from Morton over the summer.

When looking back at his time with the Ton, Lamie admitted it was full of happy memories, after joining the club from Airdrie back in 2014.

Lamie told the Tele: “Since I came in at Morton I loved every minute of it.”

“The fans took to me quite well and I said that to people who have asked me recently, a majority of my time there was a success, there were lots more highs than lows.

“Especially after spending that amount of time at a club you can’t always say that, but I’m proud that I can and to have a league title under my belt and it’s something a lot of people might never achieve.

“It’s something I’ll always have with me.”

The 24-year-old initially signed on a short-term deal after impressing on trial during pre-season, with Duffy moving to keep Lamie.

He went on to play over 100 times for the Ton at both centre-back and at left-back when required.

While the defender admitted winning the League One title in his debut season for Morton and reaching the League Cup semi-final were up there with his best moments at the Greenock club, the biggest highlight for the 24-year-old was something much more simple.

He added: “It sounds daft but my biggest highlight is that I secured myself a deal and I had that opportunity to play full-time and train every day and improve as a player.

“That’s what I’ve done. I’ve worked hard and put the effort in but you need that opportunity and I’m very pleased I got that at the time and it’s resulted in me getting this opportunity.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for making that happen, the gaffer [Jim Duffy], Craig [McPherson], there are definitely fond memories.”

But now the defender moves on for a crack in Scottish football’s top flight, with the Lions still looking for a manager after former Ton player David Hopkin left his post last month.

One of the managers touted for the job is former Morton boss Duffy, which could see the pair reunited at the West Lothian club.

But while his own future is away from the Cappielow side, Lamie reckons Morton will be just fine without him, with new manager Ray McKinnon now in charge.

Lamie said: “What Ray’s looking to do at the club is brilliant, he’s a great manager and he’s obviously proven that and the club’s made a good appointment and I wish them all the best.

“But it’s a good opportunity for me and I’ve been working hard the last four years at full-time, and the opportunity arose to go and try it out in the SPL.

“I’m hoping to do well and get plenty of game time under my belt, and gain that bit of experience playing in the top flight, which will hopefully stand me in good stead.”