MORTON striker John Baird is keen to extend his stay at the Greenock side.

The forward, who joined the club on an emergency loan last month from Inverness Caley Thistle, got off the mark for his new club on Saturday, scoring two goals against Brechin City.

It was Baird’s third start since joining the club, and the 32-year-old is keen to stay beyond the end of the seaso, with his contract up with Inverness in the summer.

But he admitted it was not in his hands.

He told the Tele: “I’m out of contract at the end of the season and I’ve got to try and impress Jim Duffy and see if he want to try and keep me on.

“I’ve spoken to the manager about what he’s looking to do, I’d definitely like to stay, there’s no doubt in that.

“But at the end of the day it’s out of my control.”

Baird joined Inverness in the summer from Falkirk, after spending the last two-and-a-half seasons with the Bairns.

The striker was a regular feature in John Robertson’s side in the Championship for the Caley Jags, but was left out of the team at the beginning of February.

Baird added: “I enjoyed my time up in Inverness, I wouldn’t want to be too disrespectful to the place but certain things happened regarding my contract.

“I played a certain amount of games, and I thought I was going to get offered a contract.

“But it dragged on for about six weeks and I started not playing.

“John Robertson might say it was down to performances, but you can’t play 20 games on the bounce and then not end up not even getting on at times.

“I knew it was happening, and as soon as Jim Duffy showed there was interest it was a no-brainer.

“They were third in the league, and I’d rather be third in the league than third bottom. I would rather be part of something.

“It is what it is. I’m back enjoying my football, I’ve got my family back down the road so I can’t complain, I’m happy.”

Baird has been impressed with the set up at the Ton since his arrival, results also playing a part of that.

The Greenock side moved up to third after results went their way at the weekend, and Baird’s former side Inverness beat Dundee United 1-0 at home on Tuesday night to keep them fourth.

Dunfermline and Queen of the South are likely to be the other two teams fighting for the last two play-off spots, with four points separating the four sides.

And Baird reckons the side have enough quality to be sealing a top four spot this campaign.

He said: “From the team we’ve got to be aiming for the play-offs, its got to be the aim for everyone in the dressing room.

It doesn’t really matter when and how we do it but it’s to get into the play-offs. We’re in a good position now.”