DEFENDER Jack Iredale knew staying at Morton was the right decision — despite there being no manager currently in place.

The Australian penned a one-year extension with the club last night and is the fourth player to be signed up for next year.

He joined the Cappielow side last summer on a six-month deal and was loaned out to Queen’s Park for the first half of the season.

After returning from the League One side back in December last year, he signed on for the rest of the campaign, and former manager Jim Duffy converted him from a centre-half to a left-back.

The 22-year-old impressed in the position and made the spot his own towards the end of the campaign, and even notched three goals, with his strike against Dundee United being nominated for PFA Scotland’s Goal of the Season.

The defender was delighted to tie up his future before he jetted back to Australia for six weeks.

He said: “It’s something I wanted to do pretty sharpish with me going back to Australia, it gives me a chance to enjoy the off-season and I’m looking forward to getting back in.

“Even though there’s no manager for me at this stage I know it’ll be the right environment for me.

“The club gave me that initial chance to make a career in Europe.

“Everyone at the club looked after me and I want to repay the faith the club have shown me to take a gamble on me and trust in my potential.

“They’ve given me a platform to show what I can do, so I’m really grateful for that.”

Meanwhile, David Hopkin has been installed as the favourite to take over as Morton’s next manager by bookmakers. The 47-year-old is currently managing high-flying Livingston and is now market frontrunner for the Cappielow job. 

His contract with Livingston is up at the end of the season, but the West Lothian side are still involved in the play-offs for the Premiership, with the semi-final legs taking place on May 7 and 11 and potentially further on if they beat either Dundee United or Dunfermline. 

The other bookies’ favourites for the role at Morton are Lee McCulloch, Ally McCoist, Stevie Aitken and Danny Lennon.