MICHAEL Tidser says his love for Morton was the main driving force towards him signing a new deal at Cappielow which will see him remain at the club until at least June 2019.

Tidser penned a new two-year extension after both he and manager Jim Duffy made it clear they were desperate to come to an agreement.

The midfielder insists his passion for the Greenock side played a huge part in him signing his deal — and he’s excited to make more memories at Cappielow in the years to come.

He told the Tele: “I’m delighted that it’s all done and dusted now and it’s just a case of getting into pre-season next week and looking forward to the season ahead, hopefully it’s a successful one at that.

“The thing is, a lot of deals are done later in the windows but I was always quite optimistic that it would be done with the club. 

“I spoke to the manager six or so weeks before the end of the season and it was just a case of crossing a few Ts and dotting a few Is and that was it. I’m ready to kick on again.

“I signed when I was a boy and I’ve had a lot of good times.

"There have been some bad times when we’ve not quite achieved what we set out to do but I love this club and I enjoy it. 

“It’s been a big part of my life, being here as a young boy before leaving [for £50,000 to Rotherham in 2013] and then coming back. But every year is a new challenge and it’s one I’ve got to go and try to relish.

“Hopefully I can continue to push forward and the club can also keep pushing in that right direction.

“It’s a two-year deal and I know the manager is trying to build something here. 

“He’s done well over the few seasons he’s been here, he’s improved and never stands still. I had a good chat with him, we sat down and he was telling me his plans. 

“They were very bright and I’m optimistic I can be a good part of that.”

Tidser is also thankful to the Ton faithful for supporting him from ‘the minute he walked through the door’. 

But he says he won’t be relying on his previous years of service — instead he’s looking to add to his already established hero status by helping Morton to more on-field successes.

He said: “The supporters have always been great with me, they’ve backed me from the very first day I walked through the door. I don’t have social media so I don’t see what is being said, but I hear and I’m glad they obviously like what I do, so that’s pleasing.

“But football doesn’t stand still, you can’t rely on what you’ve done previously, you’ve got to always be moving forward and maintain the levels you know you can maintain.
“You’ve always got to try and do better, and doing better next year would be getting the play-offs again. 
“Once we get together next Thursday for the start of pre-season the manager will lay out his plans, have a good chat with us and he’ll have expectations like the rest of us.”