MORTON have received 37 applications from across the globe for the vacant head of development squad position, Warren Hawke has revealed.

It is the sort of interest usually reserved for first-team management positions, with the Ton receiving approximately 40 as they sought a replacement for Allan Moore last November.

And as well as proving an appealing proposition for prospective employees, club development consultant Hawke, pictured, told how the post has attracted candidates of the highest calibre.

Speaking to the Tele, he said: “Thirty-seven applications have come into the club and there were a really, really strong 20-plus.

“I think it’s important that I don’t name specific countries but the interest has been worldwide in terms of the applications.

“There were a number from continental Europe, Africa — basically everywhere apart from the Americas, north or south.

“The applications were also UK-wide, with some local and from the central belt, as well as coming from British citizens who are living abroad and looking to come back. There are not many of these positions out there that are full-time and I think people would have seen what is happening with the academy, and the club in general, at Morton.

“They know it’s not just a position for the sake of a position, it’s an integral part of the future of Greenock Morton. It is a long-term post in a very progressive football club.” The closing date for applications was 11 March, and Hawke says the club is now in the process of filtering the names in preparation for the interview stage.

He explained: “I actually expected there to be some very strong applicants but for them to amount to a number in single figures and for it to be much easier for us to whittle it down. There were some left-field applicants but we didn’t get any time wasters or the ‘I’m fantastic at Football Manager’ guys.

“Because of that there will actually be a lot of very talented coaches who won’t even get an interview.

“At the moment we’ve managed to whittle it down to eight or nine, and the aim is to take that down to four or five for the interview process.

“I would have liked to have informed every single person by now, but we will be informing everybody by the end of play tomorrow.

“I would like to think we will be organising an interview process for a handful of candidates in the next 10 to 14 days.

“The board stated that this would be a decision made by the football people at the club, and those involved are myself, Derek Anderson, Jim Duffy and Craig McPherson.

“We would like the person on board as soon as possible to give them the tail end of this season to bed in and hit the ground running next year.

“But I think it’s very important for the future of the club that we get the right person.

“It’s a huge decision that affects a lot of people.

“So if it takes three weeks it takes three weeks, if it takes five it takes five, if it takes one week great — but it’s all about finding the right person.” Craig McPherson has taken charge of the Under-20s since previous incumbent David Hopkin moved to Livingston as assistant manager.

And Hawke wanted to publicly express his and the club’s gratitude to both McPherson and Jim Duffy for their support and the extra hours they have put in.

He concluded: “Both Craig and Jim have been performing their current roles while integrating the development squad boys into their training and doing additional sessions.

“They have been running the Under-20s in the meantime as well, and from the club’s point of view we want to thank them both for that extra commitment.

“It really has been invaluable.”