ALLAN Moore has adopted a professional approach to fitness - and has enlisted the services of a sports scientist to ensure his players are in peak condition for the new season.

The Morton manager, pictured, has stated in the past he wants his team to be one of the fittest in the first division and this has been the focus of pre-season training, which began last week.

And while the physical benefits are obvious, Moore hopes his players will be further boosted by a more scientific way of dealing with their conditioning.

He told the Tele: "We spoke to a sports scientist at Hampden who came out and gave us a programme and we're trying to stick to it.

"He's measured the body fat of the players and we've put it all up on the wall and told them we're looking for them to improve slightly over the next couple of weeks.

"We're trying to make it as professional as possible and I think the boys are responding to it. A lot of them have asked for the number of the sports scientist so they can contact him themselves." Moore is implementing radical changes to many aspects of the club, but is adamant this should not be construed as a criticism of his predecessor, James Grady.

He said: "I'm not saying anything against James Grady or Allan McManus - it's just that we're trying to stamp our own wee part on Morton. James and Allan came in halfway through the season so I'm not going put anything down to them. Everybody goes about their business differently." The alterations have had a positive effect on the morale of the squad, and Moore is keen to keep his players enthusiastic by organising different activities away from the training ground.

He added: "We're hoping to get them a swimming session in the pool down in Greenock to ease the legs a wee bit.

"We were meant to give them a spin class but it was too late in getting booked so we just gave them some of our own stuff."